Arcadium Lithium has acquired Li-Metal’s technology and pilot plant, enhancing its lithium carbonate to metal production capabilities.
Lithium Metal Production Capabilities
Arcadium Lithium (NYSE: ALTM) (ASX: LTM) has acquired the intellectual property and physical assets of Canada’s Li-Metal (CSE: LIM) for $11 million. However, this strategic move includes a pilot plant in Markham, Ontario, and is aimed at advancing Arcadium’s technology for producing lithium metal from lithium carbonate.
As part of the deal, Arcadium will continue operations at the Markham facility to commercialize lithium metal production technology. Moreover, the agreement also includes a supply arrangement where Arcadium will provide lithium metal to Li-Metal under a long-term offtake agreement.
Key personnel from Li-Metal’s lithium metal business, including co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Maciej Jastrzebski, will join Arcadium. Jastrzebski has signed a consulting agreement to facilitate the technology transfer and team integration.
This acquisition is set to bolster Arcadium’s position as a leading global producer of lithium metal, offering safer, cost-effective, and sustainable processes. However, these new capabilities will complement Arcadium’s existing technologies at its Bessemer City site in North Carolina and its Güemes facility in Argentina.
Strategic Importance and Future Prospects
Paul Graves, CEO of Arcadium Lithium, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. “This important acquisition gives us a platform to advance new and better process pathways for manufacturing lithium metal,” he said. “Producing lithium metal from lithium carbonate provides flexibility in utilizing our vertically integrated network of assets while reducing dependency on third-party lithium metal.”
Furthermore, Graves highlighted that this acquisition would enhance the competitiveness of Arcadium’s butyllithium and lithium specialty chemicals business, helping to meet the growing demand for next-generation battery materials developed from lithium metal.
Arcadium, North America’s largest established lithium metal producer, offers high-purity lithium metal (HPM) and LIOVIX, a proprietary printable lithium metal formulation for primary battery applications and next-generation batteries. Moreover, the company was formed through a $10.6 billion merger between Livent and Allkem, key players in the lithium industry.
Keshav Kochhar, CEO of Li-Metal, termed the sale a “pivotal milestone” for the company. “This transaction validates our team’s exceptional work in advancing lithium metal production through our patented carbonate-to-metal process,” Kochhar said. He added that the capital from the sale would further develop ultra-thin, high-energy-density anodes for next-generation batteries, reinforcing Li-Metal’s commitment to pioneering innovations in battery technology.
Source: Mining.com
