Chinese battery makers are about to test Lithium Australia’s cathode powders

Lithium Australia will send samples of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode powders to Chinese battery makers for testing in the coming fortnight.

In-house testing by Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) subsidiary VSPC has confirmed the high performance its LFP cathode material; now VSPC will seek confirmation of that performance from customers.

“We are convinced that VSPC’s elegant solution to increasing lithium-ion battery efficiency is the best available to produce LFP cathode powders,” Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said.

“The technology also has applications in catalyst and medical fields.

“Independent tests have already shown that VSPC cathode powders out-perform industry benchmarks – a compelling reason for cell makers to use VSPC material.”

Following the initial testing process those Chinese companies that are interested will request larger quantities– that process of testing those larger quantities will take a number of months, Mr Griffin told Stockhead.

“The next step will be to take the project to full feasibility,” he said.

“We can do that in the course of next year, and then having done that make a commercial decision to build a full scale production plant.”

Lithium Australia plans to be the first integrated Australian battery stock to do everything from mining lithium through to making and recycling batteries.

The company’s SiLeach process converts mine waste to lithium chemicals, before its VSPC solution turns lithium chemicals into high quality lithium-ion battery cathode materials.

Its recycling tech will recover valuable metals, including lithium and cobalt, from spent batteries.

The company held $18.5m in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the June.

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