Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25, OTCQX:ELMTF) has been granted a Title V Air Permit for the construction of an electric vehicle battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) refinery in Louisiana, USA, via its subsidiary Element 25 (Louisiana) LLC.
Crucial for construction and operation
The permit has been granted for the proposed project site, linked to the company's recent commercial agreement with Veolia North America.
It is a key requirement for kicking off construction and operation of E25’s HPMSM refinery in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.
Any source, including a temporary source, which emits or has the potential to emit any air contaminant – defined as particulate matter, dust, fumes, gas, mist, smoke or vapour, or any combination thereof produced – requires an air permit.
Element 25 managing director Justin Brown said: “Receipt of the air permit is a critical milestone in achieving our goal of financing and constructing the first USA-based HPMSM facility in Louisiana, USA to supply critical battery raw materials to our partners General Motors (NYSE:GM) LLC and Stellantis NV.
"Closer to FID"
“Crossing this important threshold is a testament to the efforts of all involved and moves the project closer to a final investment decision and commencement of project execution.”
E25 completed a comprehensive assessment of expected emissions from the HPMSM refinery, submitting the data and supporting documentation to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ).
The refinery has been classified as a 'minor source' for New Source Review, federal hazardous air pollutant (HAP), Louisiana toxic air pollutant and Title V (Part 70) purposes.
The final stage of the permitting process included a statutory public consultation period, during which a supportive public meeting was held in the local community on April 18.
Following this LDEQ issued the draft air permit to E25 in early February.
About the process
Element 25 has developed an advanced processing flowsheet to convert manganese concentrate from the Butcherbird Project in Western Australia into high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), a vital raw material for lithium-ion battery production.
This proprietary process significantly reduces energy consumption, eliminates waste and achieves the lowest carbon intensity for HPMSM globally, based on publicly available information.
The process ensures the supply of ethically sourced, traceable and transparent HPMSM to US markets.
Element 25 is developing a pioneering facility in Louisiana to produce up to 135,000 tonnes per annum of HPMSM for US EV supply chains.