American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) (NASDAQ: ABAT), an integrated critical battery materials company that is commercializing its technologies for both primary battery minerals manufacturing and secondary minerals lithium-ion battery recycling, has published an amended Initial Assessment for its Tonopah Flats Lithium Project (TFLP).

The TFLP is one of the largest identified lithium resources in the U.S., and while initial pit designs and economic analyses in previous assessments evaluated the full resource, this updated Initial Assessment utilizes a commercialization pathway with a more rigorous mine plan that contemplates utilization of only Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, and excludes Inferred Mineral Resources, to supply the planned commercial-scale lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) refinery.

This commercialization pathway allows for an engineered phased development, with improved access to the higher quality portions of the resource, and at improved project economics.  ABTC recently completed construction of its multi-ton per day integrated demonstration facility for the processing of its lithium-bearing claystone material into lithium products. Updated project metrics for ABTC's TFLP resource utilizing its internally-developed and demonstrated processing technologies include:

• While the prior Initial Assessments included Inferred Mineral Resources, which are more speculative, this most recent Initial Assessment details a commercialization plan where only Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources would be utilized to service the lithium hydroxide refinery
• Total amount of claystone processed over life of mine reduced 7%, to 597 million tons
• Average grade over life of mine increased by 8%, to 4,111 ppm LHM
• Average production costs over life of mine decreased by 7%, to $4,302/ton LHM
• Net present value at 10% discount rate (NPV-10) increased by 6%, to $4.67 billion

ABTC published the TFLP Initial Assessment in December 2023 and updated it in January 2024. ABTC is publishing this Amended Resource Estimate and Initial Assessment with Project Economics for the Tonopah Flats Lithium Project, Esmeralda and Nye Counties, Nevada, USA  (Amended Initial Assessment), that includes these changes and other updates. The Amended Initial Assessment remains preliminary in nature, and there is no certainty that this economic assessment will be realized. Mineral Resources, including Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, are too speculative geologically to be considered Probable or Proven Reserves.

To describe and walkthrough this updated commercialization plan and project scale-up, ABTC CEO Ryan Melsert was interviewed by Vrify CEO Stephen De Jong to talk through these highlights with visual graphics of the TFLP and its related infrastructure. 

The interview highlights:

• Drill Program II location and assay results
• Updated Drill Program III locations and assay results
• ABTC's lithium hydroxide pilot plant and commercial-scale refinery
• Recommended next steps for the project

To view the interview, click here. 
To view the interactive 3D Model used during the interview, click here.

 American Battery Technology Company's Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Lithium Mineral Resource

ABTC received support for the commercialization of these internally-developed technologies for the manufacturing of battery grade lithium hydroxide from Nevada-based claystone resources from an initial U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant toward the $4.5M construction and operation of a multi-ton per day integrated pilot plant, and from a second DOE grant toward the $115M construction and commissioning of the first phase of a commercial scale lithium hydroxide refinery.

The Amended Initial Assessment supersedes all previously published reports effective as of April 5, 2024. 

ABTC | www.americanbatterytechnology.com.