Start of the Electrolysis Pilot testing

Highlights

Final Electrolysis stage of ELi™ Process pilot trials has commenced in Canada at NESi, the testing facility of electrolyser vendor, NORAM;
The test work will electrolyse a purified lithium chloride solution from an operating South American brine source and produce lithium hydroxide as the primary product; and
The long-duration (1000hr) component of the trial will provide data confirming expected power consumption, membrane life and product quality to support ongoing technology licensing activities.

Sustainable process technology developer, Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT & AIM: NMT) (“Neometals” or “the Company”), is pleased to announce the commencement of the final Electrolysis stage of a pilot test work program (“Electrolysis Pilot”) by Reed Advanced Materials Pty Ltd (“RAM”). RAM, the 70:30 Neometals incorporated joint venture, with Mineral Resources Ltd, is commercialising its proprietary ELi™ Process (“ELi™”).

ELi™ uses electricity to convert lithium chloride solutions into lithium hydroxide monohydrate (“Primary Product”) in a conventional chlor-alkali cell, replacing large volumes of reagents required in the industry standard, chemical precipitation flowsheet. ELi™ has the potential to deliver users a step-change in operating costs1.

The Electrolysis Pilot will electrolyse lithium chloride brine from RAM’s successful 2023 ‘purification’ testing campaign undertaken by SGS2. RAM has completed pre-treatment and commenced the 1,000hr electrolysis membrane durability test at NESi, the testing facility of electrolyser vendor NORAM. This long-duration test work is expected to be completed in July 2024 and will provide more accurate estimates of electrolyser power consumption and membrane life, the two major variable ELi™ operating costs.

Additional testing in a full industrial height electrolysis cell will deliver a fluid flow profile and cell dynamics to predict likely performance at commercial scale. The intermediate electrolysis product solution will be evaporated and crystallised into finished Primary Product by equipment vendor JordProxa (accessory by-products include hydrogen and chlorine gas). The Electrolysis Pilot is expected to confirm battery quality results for the Primary Product which were achieved in previous test work. and the Electrolysis Pilot will also provide samples for selected cathode producers to enable a complete technical and economic assessment by the brine feedstock provider.

RAM continues to evaluate other third-party brines as part of its Lithium Chemical technology licensing business model. RAM holds 19 granted patents in the principal lithium producing jurisdictions and has a further 15 pending national phase patents at various stages of prosecution globally.

Authorised on behalf of Neometals by Christopher Reed, Managing Director.

ENDS

For further information, visit www.neometals.com.au or contact:

Jeremy McManus

General Manager

Investor Relations & Intellectual Property

T +61 8 9322 1182

E jmcmanus@neometals.com.au