Southern Gold Ltd (ASX:SAU)’s wholly owned subsidiary IonDrive Technologies Pty Ltd has appointed Dr Ebbe Dommisse as its interim CEO to lead the pre-feasibility study of IDT’s DES battery recycling technology through to December 31, 2023.
This is a critical phase for the company and it will be sure to draw on all of Dommisse’s 25-plus years of experience in operations, strategy planning, execution and manufacturing.
Notably, he has overseen operations within companies generating up to $1.5 billion in annual revenue.
Dr Dommisse's roles have been marked by a consistent track record in transforming companies into global manufacturers and successfully commercialising disruptive innovations.
Dommisse was formally the COO of Circa Group, an Australian start-up that successfully commercialised a disruptive innovation in the biochemicals sector.
He has also served in multiple roles at Pact Group, an ASX-listed plastic manufacturer with 80 operations across Australia, New Zealand, China and Southeast Asia. His positions included director and regional general manager for Plastop Indonesia and the Philippines, director and general manager for Plastop Indonesia, and business unit manager for the Closures Division.
Dommisse's primary duty will be to undertake a comprehensive pre-feasibility study (PFS), with a focus on establishing the commercialisation path for the Direct Solvent Extraction (DES) battery recycling technology. SAU expects the PFS for its DES battery recycling technology to be completed in Q1 of 2024.
“I'm truly excited about the potential that IonDrive and University of Adelaide has created,” Dr Dommisse said.
“In a world where the demand for battery recycling solutions is rapidly escalating, I see immense opportunities for the company to lead and make a positive impact going forward. I am looking forward to working with the team to begin the first steps towards commercialisation.”
Advancing commercialisation
Southern Gold managing director Robert Smillie welcomed Dr Dommisse to his new role.
Not only will Dr Dommisse help to develop a pre-feasibility study for DES, he will conduct a high-level study to explore the technical and commercial aspects of IonDrive's Aqueous Sodium-Ion Battery and NCM 811 cathode material technologies, including the development of a roadmap for technology commercialisation and scale-up options.
Together with IonDrive, Dr Dommisse aims to advance the company’s mission of commercialising battery technologies.
“We are pleased to have attracted a candidate as experienced as Ebbe," Smillie said.
“He joins the IDT team at this critical time when we require an experienced leader to support the organisation in conducting a pre-feasibility study of our DES battery recycling technology.
"With a strong grounding at this stage of development, I believe this appointment will set IDT up for future success.”