Giyani Metals Begins Commissioning of Battery-Grade Manganese Plant

Giyani

Johannesburg, South Africa – Giyani Metals, a Canada-based mining and materials company, has announced the commencement of commissioning at its battery-grade manganese demonstration plant. This marks a significant step toward advancing the global supply chain for high-purity manganese, a critical material for the electric vehicle (EV) battery market.

"Our demo plant has commenced commissioning and we are on track to produce a battery-grade manganese product in this quarter," said Charles FitzRoy, CEO of Giyani Metals, during a webinar held this Thursday.

Key Milestone in Manganese Production

The demonstration plant, designed at a 1:10 scale of the envisioned commercial facility, operates continuously. It serves as a precursor to the larger plant that will be built adjacent to Giyani’s manganese ore project in Botswana.

FitzRoy revealed that the company aims to deliver its first battery-grade manganese products for offtake agreements by late 2024. Meanwhile, construction of the commercial-scale plant is expected to begin in 2026, with production ramp-up targeted for 2027.

Rising Demand for Manganese in EV Batteries

The commissioning aligns with growing interest from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking manganese-rich battery chemistries. FitzRoy underscored a notable trend:

"We are seeing OEM groups pushing towards higher manganese content batteries. That's very important because that's where we see demand coming."

He also pointed to a projected global supply gap in high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM). Current production, estimated at 300,000 metric tons annually, falls significantly short of the anticipated demand of 1.6 million tons by 2034. A supply gap of approximately 1.2-1.3 million tons underscores the urgency for new production sources like Giyani's upcoming facility.

A Step Forward for Sustainable Energy

With the EV market's rapid growth, materials like HPMSM are increasingly essential. Giyani Metals' efforts to scale up production could help mitigate supply shortages while supporting sustainable energy transitions worldwide.