Manganese miner Firebird has announced a strategy aimed at launching the company into the growing battery market as a key supplier.
The strategy aims to develop Firebird into a near-term producer of battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate which is a key cathode material in lithium, manganese, iron and phosphate (LMFP) batteries for electric vehicles.
“We have a vision of becoming a global leader in the manganese industry by seamlessly combining mining and downstream processing, with a profound dedication to the advancement of the battery sector,” Firebird managing director Peter Allen said.
“We have been assessing the forecasted growth trajectory of LFMP batteries for several months now and have developed the LMFP growth strategy to ensure Firebird is positioned to benefit from the growing demand of this new-generation battery.”
Since listing on the ASX in 2021, Firebird has seen success at its flagship Oakover mine project in WA and is now set to transition to the next stage of strategic growth.
“LMFP demand is expected to explode over the next decade and delivery of this strategy will see Firebird become a key producer, while we continue to develop our flagship Oakover project into Western Australia’s next major manganese operation to further expand into the manganese sulphate production,” Allen said.
Firebird said it has completed extensive research in China on the high-purity manganese sulphate market and through multiple trips has developed relationships with several Chinese manganese sulphate experts.
The company is well advanced on an in-house scoping study on assessing processing and location requirements for a plant in China.
“We have spent a lot of time doing our due diligence on the LMFP strategy, which has included several trips to China to assess plant locations and meeting with potential team members,” Allen said.
“We look forward to completing a Chinese sulphate scoping study and sharing our findings with our shareholders in the coming months.”
