Northern Territory LFP battery manufacturing facility progresses

Avenira and Taiwan’s ALEEES have signed a licence and technology transfer agreement to progress a lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) battery cathode manufacturing facility at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct.

The agreement will give Avenira the authority and specifications to manufacture LFP battery cathode material in Darwin.

Once in operation, the manufacturing plant will be Australia’s first commercial-scale facility of its kind and is designed to deliver 30,000tpa of LFP powder for use in electric vehicle and energy storage batteries.

ALEEES board member Jamie Lee says the agreement will enable clients to implement their ESG priorities.

“Avenira and ALEEES combined experience and expertise will put more ‘Made in Australia’ components into electric vehicle and energy storage batteries,” she said.

“The Australian battery supply chain is a key attractor to clients being able to implement their ESG priorities as part of an active contribution to addressing climate change.”

In September 2022, Avenira and ALEEES signed a memorandum of understanding to work collaboratively with the Northern Territory to progress the manufacturing plant.

Over the last 12 months, the Northern Territory Government has continued to facilitate the project with support around regulatory approvals, connection to offtake markets and maximising benefits for local businesses.

Eventually, Avenira’s Wonarah phosphate project will supply phosphate to the LFP facility.

Avenira chairman Brett Clark commented on the agreement.

“Once operational this will be Australia’s first LFP plant and an important example of value-adding to our upstream Wonarah phosphate resource,” he said.

“The production of LFP cathode material is an important pre-cursor to the manufacture of LFP batteries, which are gaining popularity among EV manufacturers globally and are also the preferred type of battery for energy storage systems.”