
Element 25 (E25), a leading manganese developer, has been awarded a USD 166 million (AUS 268 million) grant from the US Department of Energy (DoE).
This funding, part of the DoE’s Battery Materials Processing Grant Programme, will support the construction of E25’s high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) facility in Louisiana, designed to bolster domestic production of a critical battery material in the United States.
According to Managing Director Justin Brown, the award “represents a major milestone in our development of the Louisiana HPMSM Project and adds to the commitments already received from GM and Stellantis.”
The funding comes in addition to USD 115 million (AUS 185 million) already secured through offtake partners General Motors (GM) and Stellantis.
With a project commencement date of 1 April 2025, work may begin as early as January 2025 under the grant terms.
“The grant will fund up to half of the construction capital costs for the project and when combined with existing commitments, will propel the project towards financial close and commencement of construction, creating long-term jobs for Louisiana and delivering ethically sourced, IRA compliant HPMSM to our customers,” said Brown.
He highlighted the long-term benefits for the region, including job creation and the supply of ethically sourced battery materials.
E25 plans to produce HPMSM using manganese ore from its Butcherbird mine in Western Australia.
The ore will be shipped to Louisiana, where E25’s innovative processing technology will convert it into battery-grade material.
The company’s proprietary flowsheet is designed to minimize energy consumption, reduce waste, and achieve the lowest carbon intensity HPMSM globally.
The DoE’s program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to establish a robust domestic battery materials processing industry.
The facility aligns with these objectives, delivering essential materials for lithium-ion batteries while complying with the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) ethical sourcing requirements.