International Battery supplies commercial DLE plant to customer in western U.S.

International Battery Metals (CSE: IBAT) (IBAT) has signed a term sheet for a modular direct lithium extraction (MDLE) plant with an unnamed lithium producer in the western United States. The plant uses IBAT’s proprietary selective absorption media, a design that minimizes the use of chemicals or high temperature to recover metal for lithium-ion batteries. By-product waste is reduced and over 98% of the process water is recovered.

This will be the first commercial direct lithium extraction plant to go online in North America.

IBAT will immediately begin mobilizing the MDLE plant to the customer’s site where it will be integrated into existing production facilities. Initial production will be about 4,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. The rate may eventually be doubled.

The term sheet provides for mobilization fees and cost sharing arrangements of the plant. Once initial commissioning is complete, IBAT will be entitled to monthly equipment rentals and royalties based on the volumes produced and the realized sales value of the lithium carbonate. The customer has certain options to purchase the MDLE plant while IBAT will retain all the technology rights, royalties, and be the exclusive supplier of the absorption media.

"We are very pleased with achieving this significant milestone for IBAT. The opportunity to integrate our MDLE plant with a customer who has existing production facilities is an outstanding outcome, accelerating the full commercialization of our technology and achieving meaningful product revenues," Garry Flowers, co-CEO said.

Michel Libor, co-CEO commented, "The business and operational benefits that we expect will flow to us from the transaction contemplated by this term sheet is a credit to the IBAT team and their perseverance."

Learn more about MDLE plants at www.IBatteryMetals.com.