NNDA facilitates high tech battery company agreement to use Carson City-based facility
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 03/30/2022 - 2:22pm
Ioneer USA Corporation, an emerging lithium-boron supplier, and NexTech Batteries, the global leader in proprietary lithium-sulfur battery technology, announced Wednesday the completion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies.
Under the terms of the MOU, the two companies have expressed mutual interest in the acquisition of lithium carbonate and/or lithium hydroxide supply from Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project for NexTech's production facility in Carson City, which will be used to manufacture next generation solid-state batteries poised to revolutionize the automotive industry, renewable energy and grid storage applications, portable electronics, drones/VTOL aircraft and more.
Ioneer aims to produce upward of 24,000 tons of lithium materials per year in Esmeralda County. The two parties intend to discuss the potential for long-term supply to NexTech once production has commenced at Rhyolite Ridge.
"NexTech is pleased to work with a supplier that is aligned with our mission of making batteries more affordable, more sustainable and safer through patented lithium-sulfur science that's poised to disrupt multiple industries. The fact that the Rhyolite Ridge Project is located a short distance from our facility will also allow us to lower our supply chain carbon footprint, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and create jobs right here in Nevada. We're proud to have Ioneer with us on our journey as we look to usher in a new era in energy," said Bill Burger, NexTech Batteries CEO.
"The U.S, and Nevada have prioritized the need for a domestic battery supply chain, and with little current supply, development of Rhyolite Ridge will be crucial to meeting this important goal," said Ioneer President Bernard Rowe.
"As Ioneer focuses on producing the materials needed for sustainable and clean technologies, it's important for companies like NexTech to develop and produce those technologies domestically, and sustainably. This collaboration is supportive of Nevada's clean energy strategy and is yet another example of how the state of Nevada can lead the way to a more sustainable future, while creating jobs across the supply chain from mining to high-tech manufacturing, across rural and urban communities alike," he said.
The introduction between the two companies was facilitated by Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA), the state-designated Regional authority for the Sierra Region of Nevada which includes Carson City.
More information about NexTech Batteries can be found at NexTechbatteries.com. More information on Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge Lithium Boron Project can be found at Ioneer.com.
