Earlier this year, Vancouver’s Mangrove Lithium announced a $35 million financing round to kickstart construction of North America’s first electrochemical lithium refining facility.
Located in Delta, the state-of-the-art commercial plant is expected to produce battery-grade lithium sufficient to power 25,000 electric vehicles annually by late 2025.
“Establishing North America’s first electrochemical lithium refining facility marks a key milestone in securing the continent’s battery supply chain,” Saad Dara, founder and chief executive officer of Mangrove, stated at the time. “This plant will meet the demand for battery-grade lithium while enhancing energy independence amid rising geopolitical uncertainties.”
This month, Mangrove revealed a major expansion to address a growing need for lithium refining.
The Vancouver company’s new facility will be capable of producing 20,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium, enough to power over 500,000 EVs.
The plant will integrate spodumene concentrate processing, extending Mangrove’s electrochemical processing flowsheet upstream, according to a statement from the B.C. cleantech.
“The fragility of the global lithium supply chain is growing every day,” remarked Dara. “Mangrove is building the foundation for a self-reliant, scalable, and sustainable North American lithium future.”
Mangrove also announced that it has signed Memoranda of Understanding with multiple U.S. battery gigafactories. These agreements cover offtake for 20,000 tonnes per annum of battery grade lithium, according to Dara.
“These MoUs reflect the accelerating interest from global customers who recognize Mangrove as a strategic partner in securing lithium supply,” the CEO stated.
China recently proposed an export ban on lithium processing and extraction technologies. Since the majority of lithium is currently processed in China, such restrictions could pose a risk to global supply chains, rendering domestic capabilities like Mangrove’s vital, Dara noted.
Mangrove Lithium was one of nine Canadian companies named to the 2025 edition of the Global Cleantech 100 list.