One of the world’s leading automakers, Stellantis, has announced a binding $30 million offtake agreement with the Western Australian manganese manufacturer, Element 25, on Jan. 9, 2023.
The agreement secures for the company 45 kilotons (around four Eiffel Towers) of battery grade, high purity, manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) from Element 25 to Stellantis over five years, for the production of its electric vehicle batteries, with shipments to commence in 2026 and includes options to extend the supply terms and volumes.
The manganese sulphate will be harvested from the Butcherbird mine, which is the largest onshore manganese resource in Australia.
The mine is located in the Pilbara—a large, dry and sparsely populated region in Western Australia— and is within low-risk mining jurisdiction. The mine also has access to excellent local infrastructure, with a gas pipeline and a main bitumen highway passing directly adjacent. However, the feasibility study of Butcherbird won’t be completed until the end of 2023’s first quarter….