Mangrove Lithium Plans to Increase Refining Operations Across North America
Mangrove Lithium, a leading player in the lithium industry, has announced plans to construct a new lithium refinery in North America. The proposed facility is set to have an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium, a significant leap from their current plant in Delta, British Columbia, which has an annual production capacity of approximately 1,000 tonnes.
The new refinery, once built, will be able to power over 500,000 electric vehicles annually, marking a crucial step towards strengthening the Western lithium supply chain. However, the exact location and timelines for the start of construction have yet to be decided.
One of the key features of the new refinery is its ability to process spodumene concentrate, a mineral that the existing Delta plant cannot handle. This expansion will extend Mangrove's refining capabilities upstream, and it represents a significant move towards reshoring lithium refining, an area currently dominated by China.
The new refinery's construction has been set in motion following a $35 million financing round earlier in the year. The startup of their first commercial electrochemical refining plant in Delta is expected by late 2025.
Mangrove Lithium has also secured demand for the entire sales volume of the new refinery through signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple major US battery gigafactories. These include automakers such as Tesla and Ford, demonstrating strong confidence from customers in the new facility.
Here's a summary of the confirmed details about the new refinery:
- Location: Undisclosed, second facility in North America - Start of Construction: Financing secured in early 2025; expansion planned - Annual Capacity: 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium per year - Production Impact: Powers 500,000+ EVs annually - Technology: Adds spodumene concentrate processing to existing electrochemical refining - Offtake Agreements: MoUs with multiple major US battery gigafactories
The new refinery is expected to produce no waste products and incur lower costs due to its flexible, lower-emission electrolysis technology. This development comes amid growing concerns about geopolitical and supply risks, particularly China's dominance in lithium processing and recent export restrictions.
[1] Mangrove Lithium Press Release, 2025 [2] Financial Times, 2025 [3] The Wall Street Journal, 2025
- Investors in the renewable-energy sector are showing significant interest in the lithium industry, as evidenced by Mangrove Lithium's recent $35 million financing round, which is set to fund the construction of a new lithium refinery in North America.
- The real-estate industry may soon witness a shift as the burgeoning renewable-energy business expands, with Mangrove Lithium planning to build a new facility that will have an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium, significantly exceeding their current production.
- The finance world is closely watching the development of Mangrove Lithium's new lithium refinery, as the facility promises to supply lithium to multiple major US battery gigafactories, thereby supporting the growth of the electric vehicle industry and the broader renewable-energy business.
