Ontario's First Lithium Battery Metals Refinery Comes Closer To Reality

AGORACOM Small Cap CEO Interviews - A podcast by AGORACOM

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As demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems continues  to rise, so does the demand for lithium, the key component used in their  batteries. Experts predict that lithium demand will increase by 300%  from 500,000 metric tons in 2021 to 3-4 million metric tons in 2030.  However, the question remains whether supply can keep up with this  demand. Avalon Advanced Materials is a company that aims to fill this gap by  owning and controlling a rare lithium resource, Petalite, which is  critical for high strength ceramic glass products. Avalon owns 100% of  the Separation Rapids Lithium project, the world's largest undeveloped  known resource of Petalite, which is not under China's control. Avalon  is also in the process of establishing Ontario's first regional lithium  battery materials refinery in Thunder Bay, which is designed to create a  battery material supply chain for Northern Ontario and beyond. The refinery is expected to be operational by 2025. Avalon has  already secured two significant deals that underpin the fundamental need  for this type of infrastructure in Ontario. The first is an offtake agreement for Petalite concentrates from a  major international glass ceramics manufacturer, while the second is a  supply agreement for battery-grade lithium hydroxide with LG Energy  Solutions of South Korea. These deals have the potential to be massive  and underpin the fundamental reasoning for developing a refinery in the  first place. If demand for lithium products increases to 3-4 million  tons, which experts predict it will, Avalon's newly commissioned  facility will likely produce much of the supply in a safe operational  jurisdiction. Overall, Avalon Advanced Materials is well-positioned to meet the  growing demand for lithium and fill the gap in supply. Their control  over the rare lithium resource, Petalite, and their plans to establish  Ontario's first regional lithium battery materials refinery make them a  key player in the growing lithium industry. Sit down and take a moment to listen to this fantastic interview with  Don Bubar, President and CEO of Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. as he  walks investors through the 2 agreements to supply Petalite and  battery-grade lithium from the refinery they are going to construct,  establishing a regional lithium battery materials supply chain in the  process.