ReElement and Jupiter Lithium partner to commercialise Nigerian lithium deposit
Published by Jane Bentham,
Editorial Assistant
Global Mining Review,
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of high performance refining capacity of rare earth and critical battery elements, has announced that it has entered into a partnership with UK-based Jupiter Lithium Ltd, owner of Basin Mining Ltd and Range Mining Ltd, to develop Nigeria’s first large-scale lithium deposit spanning 442 km2 of high-quality, lithium-rich terrain.
The Jupiter Critical Minerals Project is poised to become a transformative project for Nigeria, with the potential to establish the country as a regional hub for lithium mining and downstream battery and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. The project is expected to develop significant production capacity, supporting a robust local industry. Jupiter Lithium is focused on expanding its operations from the current contract mining to large-scale owner operations. This includes a spodumene concentrator facility to produce an initial 55 000 t of 6% lithium spodumene concentrate annually. The first concentrate production from the plant is scheduled for 1Q25, ramping up 167 000 t within two years. Pursuant to the MOU, ReElement is designing for the construction of its lithium and critical mineral refinery to refine spodumene concentrate into high-purity, battery-grade lithium carbonate and other critical minerals produced.
Mark Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of ReElement Technologies, emphasised the significance of this partnership to catalyse advanced manufacturing in the region with local partners stating, “We are excited to sign our first large-scale spodumene supplier partnership to be refined in the region. We have a technology that is environmentally safer, more cost-efficient, and able to be deployed throughout the world. This enables partnering nations to maximise the value of their natural resources while advancing job creation through expanded and innovative industrialisation. The Jupiter team and project are absolutely world class, and we believe together we can quickly unlock the potential to be one of the largest lithium projects worldwide that can be produced in the lowest quartile of costs.”
Stephen Davis, Chairman of Jupiter Lithium Ltd, noted that, “This remarkable discovery caps two decades of work in Nigeria understanding Nigeria’s minerals endowment. The scale of the Jupiter lithium discovery has the potential to provide the momentum required to commence Nigeria’s transition from a reliance on oil and gas to clean, solid energy”. Davis added, “The downstream processing of the ore to concentrate and carbonate in-region opens the door to a new phase in the development of Nigeria’s energy and mining sector and numerous economic opportunities.”
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/16072024/reelement-and-jupiter-lithium-partner-to-commercialise-nigerian-lithium-deposit/
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