Mangrove Lithium has secured $35-million USD ($50.4-million CAD) to build North America’s first electrochemical lithium refining facility in Delta, British Columbia. The plant is expected to produce enough battery-grade lithium annually to power 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs), helping to strengthen North America’s battery supply chain. The funding round included new investors such as Mitsubishi, Asahi Kasei, InBC, Orion Industrial Ventures, and Export Development Canada, along with existing backers like Breakthrough Energy Ventures and BMW i Ventures.
Founded in 2013, Mangrove Lithium was spun out from a UBC research group led by Dr. David Wilkinson, Canada Research Chair in clean energy and electrochemical technologies. The company has developed a proprietary electrochemical process that directly converts raw lithium from brines, hard rocks, clays, and recycled batteries into battery-grade lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate. This method reduces costs and carbon emissions compared to traditional refining techniques, making lithium production more sustainable.
Mangrove’s Delta facility is set to begin operations later this year, providing a domestic source of refined lithium as demand for EVs and clean energy storage continues to rise. “Our Delta plant will help meet the growing demand for battery-grade lithium while enhancing energy independence amid rising geopolitical uncertainties,” said CEO Saad Dara. Dr. Wilkinson’s research at UBC continues to play a vital role in advancing clean energy technologies and fostering innovation in sustainable materials processing.
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