Neometals (ASX:NMT) and Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) have announced that their 70:30 joint venture, Reed Advanced Materials, has entered a collaboration agreement with global electrochemical technology company Industrie De Nora and its Japanese subsidiary, De Nora Permelec.
The agreement pairs RAM’s patented ELi Process, which converts lithium chloride brines into battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate, with De Nora's electrolysis technology, including its Cechlo system.
Together, the companies will design, build, and commission a pilot plant integrating De Nora's electrolysis equipment with RAM’s lithium processing technology.
The pilot aims to advance the integrated solution from technology readiness level 6 to 7 through continuous operation and performance validation, nominally at a site in Argentina, subject to Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) approval.
A joint steering committee will oversee engineering, testing, intellectual property allocation, and development planning.
De Nora will supply the electrolysis system, while RAM will manage brine purification, system integration, lithium hydroxide crystallisation, and overall plant supervision.
Each party retains its existing intellectual property, with new IP assigned according to the responsible party's scope.
The three-year agreement allows each party to fund its own work, with commercial supply of equipment governed by separate agreements.
Subject to successful pilot operation, the partners may explore commercial-scale deployment, including reciprocal designation as preferred suppliers.
At the time of reporting, the share prices of Neometals and Mineral Resources were $0.063 and $60.31, respectively.