LITHIUM PROCESSING
On June 16, 2023, Avalon finalized the purchase of a 383-acre industrial property with unique access to a deep-water port, rail, road, and other critical infrastructure. Located in Thunder Bay, the site provides an ideal geographic location for Avalon’s lithium processing facility—half way between the lithium deposits in northern Ontario and the EV battery plants in the south.
The planned facility will ensure the long-term security of domestic lithium processing capacity required for North America’s electric vehicle (EV) and battery supply chains—a core objective of both the Ontario and Canadian governments.
With the finalization of this site purchase, Avalon's focus moves to build upon its relations with First Nations partners. Deepening this collaboration is key to ensuring members of the regional ecosystem all benefit from the project and prioritize environmental stewardship.
Lake Superior Lithium Inc.
PARTNERSHIP
Avalon has also entered a partnership with Metso Corp. to leverage their groundbreaking, sustainable processing technologies. Key partnership highlights include:
Create a testing laboratory for research and development on lithium and clean technology solutions.
Metso to provide testing and engineering equipment procurement and related services to develop and commercialize Avalon’s Thunder Bay lithium processing facility.
Avalon and Metso to cooperate on the recycling of used batteries and the refining of battery chemicals for recycle use.
Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso is a leader in providing sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. The Finnish firm employs over 16,000 people in close to 50 countries with sales in 2022 of EUR 5.3 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.
DETAILS
North America faces a major challenge with current lithium supply chains. Global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to exceed 3,100 gigawatts per hour (GWh) by 2030. However, more than 65% of “midstream” processing capacity occurs in China.
Create an estimated 500 jobs in the City of Thunder Bay and Kenora, Ontario.
Job Creation
Deploy best - in -class environmental and sustainability process and create novel Canadian IP.
Applying Innovation
Catalyzing northwestern Ontario's lithium assets with the proximity of Avalon's processing capacity.
Accelerating Growth
Create national supply chain security and self - sufficiency and a decreased life - cycle carbon footprint compared to shipping raw materials for processing overseas.
C02 Leadership
Develop a regional Innovation and R&D Hub in partnership with local university and college stakeholders.
Research and Innovation
Capturing value - added economic growth and further downstream investment in Ontario - replicating the effect of the IRA to the U.S. economy.
Industrial Strategy
Ensure new economic development opportunites for local and regional Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Economic Opportunities
Heavy investments have been made into downstream EV battery gigafactories. In Ontario, these facilities will require an estimated 400,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year starting in 2028. Avalon intends to supply the lithium-hydroxide needed to close the midstream gap.
Estimated to be operational by 2028, the project will:
Create an estimated 500 jobs in the City of Thunder Bay and Kenora, Ontario
Catalyze northwestern Ontario’s lithium assets with the proximity of Avalon’s processing facility
Develop a regional Technology & Innovation Centre, including R&D Hub in partnership with local university and college stakeholders
Ensure new economic development opportunities for local and regional Indigenous communities
Deploy best-in-class environmental and sustainability process innovations and create novel Canadian IP
DOCUMENTATION
GALLERY
Both Canadian and U.S. governments are seeking to onshore lithium supply chains to meet the growing demand. Full vertical integration of the critical minerals production cycle is considered a key step towards North American energy stability and self-sufficiency.
