Name of the Project
Electra Battery Metals Material Park.

Location
Ontario, Canada.

Project Owner/s
Electra Battery Materials Corporation, formerly First Cobalt.

Project Description
Electra is building North America’s only fully integrated, localised and environmentally sustainable battery materials park.

The park will host cobalt and nickel sulphate production plants, a large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility and battery precursor materials production, which will serve North American and global customers. 

The cobalt refinery is expected to have an installed capacity of 6 500 t/y of cobalt.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The $67-million capital budget for the project could be exceeded by 5% to 10%, based on market trends.

Planned Start/End Date
Commissioning is on schedule for December 2022, while commercialisation of the battery recycling plant is expected in 2023.

Latest Developments
Cost pressures emerging from systematic inflation, constrained global supply chains and the sanctions on trade with Russia have put the capital budget of Electra Battery Metals’ cobalt refinery, in Ontario, at risk.

The company has said that project cost inputs, such as steel, copper, nickel and freight rates, have all increased, as have labour and contractor rates, with 8% to 9% wage settlements in construction trades.

“The company’s early decision to create an experienced owner’s team has helped to mitigate some of these impacts, and management believes that the company is well positioned to navigate a more complex landscape,” Electra CEO Trent Mell has said.

Electra has successfully kept the project on schedule to start dry commissioning in December, despite global supply chain disruptions.

The company has received its industrial sewage works permit, started construction of the solvent extraction plant, and received approval for its closure plan.

Completion of these milestones paves the way for the commissioning of the refinery expansion in the fourth quarter, consistent with the company’s expected timelines.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Ausenco Engineering Canada (independent fea­sibility study); Knight Piésold (geotechnical drilling); Story Environmental (permit to take water); and Metso Outotec (design and manufacturing of solvent extraction cells, as well as technical support for the layout of a new solvent extraction plant and its process control).

Contact Details for Project Information
Electra Battery Materials Corporation, tel+1416900 3891 or email info@ElectraBMC.com.