03:53 PM EDT, 05/06/2024 (MT Newswires) -- International Battery Metals ( IBATF ) on Monday said it and US Magnesium LLC reached an agreement for the installation of its first-of-its-kind, modular direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant installed at a brine resource.

The mobile facility is co-located at US Mag's existing operations outside Salt Lake City, Utah.

IBAT's plant will process brine produced from lithium-containing waste-magnesium salts. The resulting lithium chloride product will provide feed for high-purity lithium carbonate production by US Mag.

"Our commercial operations with US Mag will advance a productive lithium extraction operation," said Garry Flowers, IBAT CEO, in a statement. "Given current lithium demand, supply dependence on China, and permitting challenges, our expected commercial operations are coming at an ideal time to produce lithium at scale in the U.S."

In the last month, IBAT has initiated most of the equipment setup, including pipe and utility tie-ins and other installation activities of its patented modular extraction plant at the US Mag site. Initial testing of critical equipment is underway. IBAT anticipates that full commissioning and startup will be completed within the next three months, with commercial lithium production to follow shortly thereafter.

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