Ann: Li Battery Recycling - Commissioning of Demo Plant, page-4

Here is a precis:
COMMISSIONING OF BATTERY RECYCLING DEMONSTRATION PLANT
HIGHLIGHTS
 Commencement of commissioning the Primobius (JV between Neometals and SMS group) lithium battery recycling demonstration plant in Hichenbach, Germany;
 ‘Front-end’ shredding and beneficiation circuit construction complete and dry commissioning in progress;  Construction of the ‘Back-end’ refinery circuit nearing completion; and
 Feasibility Study on track for completion March 2022.
Innovative project development company, Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) (“Neometals” or “the Company”), is pleased to announce that Primobius GmbH (“Primobius”), the joint venture (“JV”) company owned 50:50 by Neometals and SMS group GmbH (“SMS group”), has commenced commissioning of its showcase lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) recycling demonstration plant (“DP”) in Hilchenbach, Germany. Primobius is combining Neometals’ unique and sustainable hydrometallurgical LIB recycling technology with SMS groups’ global engineering, plant construction and R&D industrialisation skills.

Following 5 years of Neometals development, including a comprehensive pilot trial, Primobius has continued commercialisation efforts with significant DP progress achieved. The fully integrated and continuous DP trial constitutes one of the evaluation activities required for the JV owners to make an investment decision relating to construction of the JV’s first commercial recycling plant. Neometals and SMS group have been co-funding the evaluation steps, which will also include subsequent completion of Feasibility Study and the commercial negotiations required to secure LIB feed and product offtake arrangements.

The DP is located in a dedicated building within the SMS group engineering competence centre in Hilchenbach. The trial schedule contemplates commissioning and operation of the ‘Front-end’ Shredding and Beneficiation Circuit first, followed by commissioning of the ‘Back-end’ Hydrometallurgical Refining Circuit. DP LIB feedstocks have been secured from electric vehicle and energy storage system manufacturers and the DP will serve as a showcase for generating evaluation product for potential customers, partners and offtakers. The DP will provide an opportunity for potential partners to verify Primobius’ capability to safely,
sustainably and ethically dispose of hazardous LIBs. The DP is permitted to operate at a rate of 1t per day
and the ‘Front-end’ circuit is being ‘powered up’ ahead of dry and then wet testing. Construction of the DP
Back-end circuit is almost complete and will follow the same sequence of steps before the DP trial
commences in earnest. Approximately [10] tonnes of whole LIB cells are to be shredded during the DP trial.
Cont... GLAH Mal