Manganese is a critical component in the Cathodes of Lithium-ion batteries.
At present, our High Purity Electrolytic Manganese Metal (HP EMM) is dissolved in sulphuric acid to produce Manganese sulphate, which is then used along with Cobalt- and Nickel sulphates to make NCM-type Precursor Cathode active material (PCAM).
The growing demand for manganese in the battery industry has led us to develop a new product: High Purity Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (HP MSM)
Our proprietary method for producing HP MSM uses manganese ore instead of HP EMM as starting material. We have developed a highly effective combination of chemical and physical processes to remove impurities from manganese ore and sustainably produce HP MSM crystals with a low carbon footprint. (when compared to the metal dissolution route)
We are currently in the preliminary phase of constructing a small-scale (5,000 tons per annum) commercial HP MSM plant in Mbombela, South Africa, which is expected to be in production by 2026. This plant will be a brownfields capacity addition to our existing HP EMM site.
Creating Sustainability
We are committed to operating in a sustainable manner and to working with our suppliers to ensure that they also commit to operating sustainably.
We aim to supply our customers with a safer, cleaner, more sustainable Manganese Sulphate product while also providing them the opportunity to avoid dealing with countries that have high levels of geopolitical tension, unrest and lack of transparency.
Our future plans
The demand for Manganese is expected to grow significantly in the coming years as the adoption of electric vehicles increases.
To meet the growing demand, we plan to construct an additional 30,000 tons per annum High purity Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (HP MSM) plant, which will be operational beyond 2028. We believe that our HP MSM will help accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
