LIT signs MMD off-take agreement with SungEel HiTech
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
13 June 2024
Lithium Australia signs MMD off-take agreement with
SungEel HiTech
HIGHLIGHTS
◼
Lithium Australia has signed a new 3-year Mixed Metal Dust (MMD) off-take agreement
with SungEel HiTech, a leading South Korean battery recycler
◼
Under the off-take agreement, SungEel HiTech will purchase a minimum of 60% of
Lithium Australia’s annual MMD production, subject to quality requirements being met
◼
This off-take agreement validates Lithium Australia’s high-quality MMD and provides an
important strategic partnership for the Company’s growth strategy
◼
Following the signing of the off-take agreement, both parties have commenced
discussions on a joint development agreement
Lithium Australia Ltd (ASX:LIT) (“Lithium Australia” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce
that its wholly owned subsidiary Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd (“Envirostream”), which is leading
Australia’s onshore battery recycling industry, has signed a 3-year MMD off-take agreement
(“Agreement”) with SungEel HiTech Co., Ltd. (“SungEel”) with an effective date of 1 July 2024.
Simon Linge, Lithium Australia CEO and Managing Director:
“We are very pleased to sign this MMD off-take agreement with SungEel, demonstrating rapid
progress after the MOU was initially announced in March 2024. SungEel has been a longstanding customer and we are excited to expand our strong commercial relationship.
The signing of this MMD off-take agreement represents a core component of our recycling
growth strategy, given its synergistic value with the Company’s rapidly growing large-format
LIB collection volumes and MMD production. This off-take agreement also highlights the strong
market demand for MMD and supports the expected uplift in future production volumes. We
are now ready to start the next step of our SungEel relationship with a Joint Development
Agreement to be finalised through this year.
We are excited to continue building upon this momentum while aiming to achieve sustainable
profitability within our recycling business in the near-term.”
Following the MOU signed in March 20241, Lithium Australia has now signed an MMD off-take
agreement with SungEel. During the 3-year term, SungEel will purchase a minimum of 60% of
Lithium Australia’s annual MMD production, subject to certain minimum quality requirements being
met. SungEel has been a customer since 2020 and has purchased more than 300 tonnes of MMD
to date, which reflects the market’s growing demand for recycled materials to be utilised in battery
1 See ASX announcement, ‘LIT signs MOU with SungEel HiTech for MMD off-take and JDA’, 7 March 2024
Lithium Australia Limited
ASX: LIT
ACN: 129 129 413
Address
Suite 16 & 17, 79-83 High Street
Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia
Contact
+61 (0) 3 7017 2656
info@lithium-au.com
Media (Investor Hub & Web)
investorhub.lithium-au.com
lithium-au.com
`
manufacturing processes. The off-take agreement also validates Lithium Australia’s high-quality
MMD product and represents an important strategic partnership for the Company’s recycling
growth strategy moving forward.
SungEel has recently opened the third hydro centre in South Korea. This facility is the largest
Lithium ion battery recycling plant in the world and can input 20,000 tons of MMD in Phase 1.
Through this off-take Agreement, it is possible for SungEel to produce battery materials using
MMD produced by Envirostream.
Market demand for MMD has continued to grow recently, reflected by Lithium Australia’s
FY24YTD2 MMD sales of 256 tonnes (FY23pcp3: 139 tonnes). This is underpinned by the
Company’s growth in large-format lithium-ion battery (LIB) collections, which represents ~30% of
FY24YTD collection volumes (FY23pcp: ~14%). The growth in large-format LIB collections is
driven by the Company’s focus on securing recycling agreements with leading original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) and battery manufacturers.
The Agreement defines achieved MMD price (denominated in USD) in reference to prevailing
metal prices from agreed indices. Assuming that the Agreement had been in place since 1 July
2023, based on FY24YTD MMD sales the revenue under this Agreement would have been
approximately A$514,0004.
Following the signing of the Agreement, SungEel and Lithium Australia have now commenced
discussions on a joint development agreement (“JDA”). The JDA includes an investment, focused
on upgrading recycling equipment and expanding total processing capacity. Lithium Australia notes
that the JDA is subject to negotiation and relevant approvals. The Company will keep the market
informed in the event of any material developments.
Authorised for release by the Board.
Simon Linge
Managing Director / CEO
Mobile +61 (0) 438 721 280
simon.linge@lithium-au.com
Stuart Tarrant
Chief Financial Officer
Mobile +61 (0) 467 817 005
stuart.tarrant@lithium-au.com
2 FY24YTD represents the 11 months to 31 May 2024
3 FY23pcp represents the 11 months to 31 May 2023 (prior corresponding period)
4 Company analysis: FY24YTD volumes (256,000kg) recognises revenue of approximately A$844,000
(achieved MMD price of A$3.30/kg). 60% (minimum volumes) equates to approximately A$514,000 assuming that FY24YTD volumes meet the minimum quality requirements.
ASX ANNOUNCEMENTS Lithium Australia
lithium-au.com
Page 2
`
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject
to a variety of risks and uncertainties that it is beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict
and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements.
About Lithium Australia
Lithium Australia is aiming to lead and enable the global transition to sustainable lithium
production. The Company operates Australia’s market leading battery recycler, produces critical
battery material lithium ferro phosphate (LFP), and has developed a patented lithium extraction
technology. Lithium Australia’s revenue-generating recycling business and technologies are wellplaced to capitalise on growing global lithium-ion battery demand and provides diversification
benefits to global supply chains.
About SungEel HiTech
SungEel is a leading South Korean battery recycler with global operations. SungEel currently
operates recycling plants in South Korea, Hungary, Poland, India, and Malaysia and has
announced planned investments in the USA, Spain, and Germany to expand its global footprint.
SungEel operates various Hydro Centres, which utilise hydrometallurgy to extract high-purity
battery materials from MMD.
ASX ANNOUNCEMENTS Lithium Australia
lithium-au.com
Page 3
Share your feedback
Discover