International Battery Metals Ltd. announced the successful completion of systems and safety testing for the world's first commercial-scale mobile lithium extraction plant. The modular plant will now begin flow-testing with lithium-bearing brine, which has been sourced in the U.S. and is being delivered in significant volume via tanker truck. Once the efficacy and safety of the flow tests have been confirmed, International Battery Metals will begin extracting lithium chloride (LiCl).

The company expects extraction to begin in the coming days, becoming the first company globally to successfully operate a commercial-scale mobile lithium extraction plant. The unique modular design of the company's lithium extraction plant allows for rapid deployment and swift onsite assembly. The plant, located in Lake Charles, LA, was assembled in 10 days by a crew of nine workers and has the potential to produce 5,000 metric tons of commercial-grade lithium chloride (LiCl), on a lithium carbonate equivalent basis, each year.

Thanks to its modular design, this same plant also has the potential to be expanded to produce up to 20,000 metric tons of LiCl per year, based on the capacity and unique composition of the brine resource. The Lake Charles plant completed a full range of Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), which evaluated the equipment during and after the assembly process by verifying that it is built and operating in accordance with all design specifications.