[캐나다] 일렉트라, 코발트 정제 프로젝트 및 블랙매스 재활용 시험 업데이트

일렉트라(Electra Battery Materials Corporation)는 지난 6월에 종료된 3개월 및 6개월 기간 재무결과를 보고하고 코발트 정제소의 위탁 운영과 블랙 매스(폐배터리 재활용해 만든 금속물질) 재활용 실험에 대한 업데이트를 8월 17일(현지시간) 발표했다.

트렌트 멜(Trent Mell) 일렉트라 최고경영자는 "엔지니어링 보고서, 범위 조사 연구 및 최근 주식 자금 조달을 완료해 총 수익 2천150만 달러를 모았으며 이제 우리는 블랙 매스 재활용 전략을 가속화할 것"이라며 "이를 위해 연간 최대 2천500 톤의 블랙 매스 물질을 처리할 수 있는 정유 단지에서 지속적인 운영을 구축하고 캐나다 온타리오 주의 주요 재활용 시설에서 리튬 이온 배터리 스크랩을 처리하기 위해 쓰리 파이어(Three Fires)와의 합작 투자를 진행해야 한다"고 말했다. 

멜은 또 "온타리오에서 장기적으로 황산 코발트 정제 프로젝트를 완료하고 LG에너지솔루션 및 기타 고객사에 배터리 등급 소재를 공급해 퀘벡 주 베칸쿠르(Bécancour)에 두 번째 정제 공장을 건설할 계획을 추진하기 위해 최선을 다하고 있다"고 덧붙였다.

일렉트라의 2023년 2분기 주요 내용은 다음과 같다.

당기 순이익은 1천200만 달러(주당 0.33달러)이며, 이는 2028년 채권과 관련된 공정가치 조정 이익 1천440만 달러와 미실현 파생금융부채 이익에 따른 것이다. 

2023년 2분기 영업 손실은 450만 달러로, 2022년 2분기 390만 달러보다 증가했다. 이는 직원 수 증가와 법률 및 전문가 수수료 인상에 대한 보상 비용 증가로 인한 것이며 아이언 크릭의 탐사 비용 감소로 부분 상쇄됐다.

2023년 6월 30일 기준 현금 및 유가증권은 740만 달러로, 2022년 3월 31일 기준 1천290만 달러보다 감소했다. 이는 주로 코발트 정제 프로젝트 건설과 관련된 자본 비용 및 회사의 블랙 매스 재판 관련 비용의 영향을 받아 발생했다. 

일렉트라의 2023년 2분기 말 현금 잔액은 이후 받을 것으로 예상되는 정부 투자 중 나머지 510만 달러를 포함하지 않았다. 일렉트라는 총 2천100만 달러의 자금 조달을 완료했다.

[원문보기]

Electra Reports Q2 2023 Results and Provides Update on Cobalt Refinery Project and Black Mass Recycling Trial

 

Toronto, Ontario – (August 17, 2023) – Electra Battery Materials Corporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V: ELBM) (“Electra” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2023, and provided an update on the commissioning of its cobalt refinery and its black mass recycling trial.  All amounts are in Canadian currency unless otherwise stated.

“Our recent efforts have been primarily focused on strengthening our balance sheet and updating our refinery project and black mass economics,” said Trent Mell, Electra’s CEO.  “With completion of our re-baseline engineering report, scoping study, and recent equity financing, which raised $21.5 million in gross proceeds, now behind us, we will accelerate our black mass recycling strategy. This will entail building continuous operations at our refinery complex capable of processing up to 2,500 tonnes of black mass material per year and advancing our joint venture with Three Fires to process lithium-ion battery scrap in a primary recycling facility in Ontario.”

Mr. Mell added, “Over the longer term, we remain committed to completing our cobalt sulfate refinery project in Ontario, supplying battery grade material to LG Energy Solution and other customers, and advancing plans for a second refinery in Bécancour, Quebec.”

ELECTRA Q2 2023 HIGHLIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENTS               

Net income for the period was $12.0 million or $0.33 per share. The totals were driven by a gain of $14.4 million of fair value adjustments relating to the 2028 Notes and unrealized derivative financial liability gain.

Operating loss for Q2 2023 was $4.5 million, up from $3.9 million for Q2 2022. The increase was driven by higher compensation costs due to more staff and higher legal and professional fees, and partially offset by lower exploration costs for Iron Creek.

Held cash and marketable securities of $7.4 million as at June 30, 2023, down from $12.9 million as at March 31, 2022. The decline was primarily driven by capital costs related to the construction of the cobalt refinery project and costs related to the Company’s black mass trial. Electra’s cash balance at the end of Q2 2023 does not include the remaining $5.1 million of government investments expected to be received. Subsequent to quarter end, Electra completed an equity financing, generating gross proceeds of $21.5 million.

Progressed with the first plant-scale recycling of black mass material in North America using Electra’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process. Progress in Q2 was marked by high recoveries of critical metals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and graphite, needed for the EV battery supply chain, and the production of high-quality nickel-cobalt mixed hydroxide, graphite, and lithium carbonate products.

Released highlights of a desktop scoping study[1] focused on evaluating the economics of developing a modular process plant initially capable of processing 2,500 tonnes of black mass material per year. The scoping study determined that:

The capital spend is estimated at $8.1 million ($US6 million)

The internal rate of return is estimated at 127%.

EBITDA is estimated to be in the range of US$9.6 to US$12.6 million per year beginning with the first full year of operations.

The payback period is estimated at between one and two years.

Released highlights of a re-baseline engineering report focused on determining the capital spend requirements for completing construction of a cobalt refinery complex capable of producing 5,000 tonnes of cobalt contained in sulfate per year. The updated capital spend total reflected the impacts of inflation, supply chain disruptions, and scope expansion since construction project was initiated. The total capital spend for completing the refinery project is currently estimated at $155 to $167 million of which $81.7 million of capitalized development costs have been incurred to date.

Signed a memorandum of understanding with the First Nation-owned Three Fires Group to form a joint venture focused on the recycling of lithium-ion battery waste in Ontario. The joint venture plans to recycle lithium-ion batteries and supply black mass to be processed at Electra’s refinery complex using the Company’s proprietary black mass processing capabilities that recover high value elements, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite, used to manufacture electric vehicle battery cells.

Appointed Peter Park, a senior finance professional with more than 20 years of experience, as Chief Financial Officer effective July 4, 2023.

Highlights Subsequent to Quarter End

Closed concurrent brokered and non-brokered private placements for aggregate gross proceeds of $21.5 million. Under the terms of the equity financings, the Company issued 19,545,454 units in aggregate, at a price of $1.10 per unit with each unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $1.74 at any time on or before August 11, 2025. Electra intends to use the net proceeds of the equity financing to advance its black mass recycling strategy, its cobalt refinery, for working capital to retire existing payables, and general corporate purposes.

Extended and expanded the terms of its battery-grade cobalt supply agreement with LG Energy Solution whereby Electra will now supply 19,000 tonnes of contained cobalt in sulfate over a five-year period beginning in 2025, up from 7,000 tonnes over a three-year period when the supply agreement was first announced in September 2022.

Made the first customer shipment of nickel-cobalt produced at the Company’s refinery complex north of Toronto from recycled battery material.

For complete details of the consolidated financial statements and the associated management’s discussion and analysis, please refer to the Company’s filing on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or the Company’s website (www.ElectraBMC.com).

Electra will host a conference call on August 18, 2023 at 10:00 am ET to review its second quarter performance and discuss near-term outlook.

Dial-in and Webcast Details:

North American dial-in number: 1 800-319-4610

International dial-in number: 1 416 915-3239

Webcast and slide presentation: https://ElectraBMC.com/category/events/

Corporate Matters

In accordance with its long-term incentive plan, the Company has granted 50,000 stock options, $98,151 in Restricted Share Units (RSU) and $24,375 in Deferred Share Units to certain directors, officers, employees, and contractors of the Company.  All awards will be granted and priced two trading days from today on the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Long-term incentive grants are an important retention and incentive tool for key employees, and a mechanism to align interests with shareholders. RSUs and DSUs are being issued in lieu of cash compensation otherwise payable to certain employees and directors. DSUs may not be exercised until a director or officer ceases to serve the Company. RSUs and DSUs will vest in one year from the grant date and the stock options will vest in three equal tranches on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date and will be for a term of five years.

About Electra Battery Materials

Electra is a processor of low-carbon, ethically-sourced battery materials. Currently commissioning North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery, Electra is executing a multipronged strategy focused on onshoring the electric vehicle supply chain. Keys to its strategy are integrating black mass recycling and nickel sulfate production at Electra’s refinery located north of Toronto, advancing Iron Creek, its cobalt-copper exploration-stage project in the Idaho Cobalt Belt, and expanding cobalt sulfate processing into Bécancour, Quebec. 

[출처 = 일렉트라(Electra Battery Materials Corporation)(https://electrabmc.com/electra-reports-q2-2023-results-and-provides-update-on-cobalt-refinery-project-and-black-mass-recycling-trial)/ / 2023년 8월 17일]