Firebird Metals banks A$1 million ARENA payment as Perth battery plant advances

Firebird Metals Ltd (ASX:FRB, OTC:FRBMF, FRA:7Y2) has received its first A$1 million payment from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency after completing the opening milestone for its Australian Demonstration Plant ahead of schedule and within budget.

The non-dilutive payment forms part of a A$2 million grant awarded under ARENA’s Battery Breakthrough Initiative, with the remaining A$1 million expected as Firebird reaches further assembly and commissioning milestones.

Firebird has secured a site for the plant at Osborne Park in Perth, placed orders for all major equipment and completed the required risk management and operational planning.

Site establishment and work toward the second project milestone are now underway.

Firebird’s proprietary concentrate to HPMSM to lithium-manganese cathode process.

Demonstration plant moves into development phase The Australian Demonstration Plant is designed to become the world’s first fully integrated manganese-to-cathode active material processing facility outside China.

Firebird plans to use the facility to demonstrate its proprietary processing technology, optimise manufacturing, produce qualification samples for prospective customers and generate operating data needed to support future commercial-scale deployment.

All key equipment orders have been placed, while equipment sourced from China has been independently inspected by an Australian electrical contractor and confirmed as compliant with ...