Avalon Advanced Materials

Overview

Commodities markets are radically transforming as the world embraces electric vehicles (EVs) and other clean energy technologies. The surge in demand for green tech makes critical mineral commodity markets an attractive option for many investors. Moreover, most critical minerals necessary for future technologies have a steadily increasing demand while supply struggles to keep up, evidenced by the tightening lithium supply in China. As a result, some analysts expect battery metals markets to remain elevated for many years to come.

Lithium is the most discussed critical mineral impacting the battery materials market, but it’s not the only element enabling clean technologies. Last year, the International Energy Association (IEA) published a study highlighting other metals need to support the global transition to clean energy, including copper, platinum group metals, zinc and aluminum. Another study by IEA indicates that total mineral demand derived from clean technology related to EVs and battery storage will go from 0.4 million tonnes in 2020 to 21.5 million tonnes in 2040, based on the ‘net-zero by 2050’ scenario. So how will the mining industry satisfy this massive increase in demand?

The Separation Rapids Lithium Project, the Company’s flagship project, is currently at the Prefeasibility (PFS) and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) level. The Company now plans to complete a feasibility study on the project in 2023.

Once in production, the facility, using lithium concentrate feed from the Company’s Separation Rapids project, will be the first to produce lithium hydroxide in Ontario. Development of the facility strategically aligns with the Ontario Critical Minerals strategy, demonstrating the mining-friendly nature of the region and government support for the project. Its leading sustainability solutions and unique lithium petalite-lepidolite deposit in Northwestern Ontario can serve both the global glass-ceramics industry and the battery materials sector. The ability to to produce lithium hydroxide in Canada will establish a domestic supply chain of much-needed lithium battery materials once the refinery is in operation.

Though we usually think of batteries when discussing lithium, there are many other uses for the element. High-purity lithium is also a required component in high strength glass-ceramic applications. Lithium minerals identified at the Separation Rapids Project contain the high purities necessary for glass-ceramic products.

An experienced and knowledgeable management team leads the company. Don Bubar, President & CEO and a professional geologist, has worked in the mining industry since 1977 and founded Avalon in 1995 under the name Avalon Ventures Ltd . Jim Andersen, CFO, brings 30 years of experience in corporate finance to guide the company’s development. Andersen is joined by Cindy Hu, a chartered professional accountant and controller, who has experience in wealth management for both public and private companies. The technical team Includes Zeeshan Syed, VP, External Affairs with resource experience in Alberta and previous experience in government. He is now joined by Rickardo Welyhorsky P. Eng., recently hired as Avalon’s new VP, Operations. Welyhorsky will work with Avalon’s senior metallurgical consultant, Georgi Doundarov, who has over 30 years of relevant operations and technical experience worldwide, as well as Amiel Blajchman, who serves as Avalon’s manager of ESG and sustainability who has over 19 years of experience in environmental and social impact assessment and community engagement.

Company Highlights

• Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (“Avalon” or the “Company”) is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with assets targeting multiple critical minerals, including lithium, cesium, tantalum, rare earth elements and tin.
• All of the company’s assets are located in Canada with the flagship project, Separation Rapids Lithium Project (“Separation Rapids”), being located 70km north of Kenora, Ontario and is well positioned to produce the initial concentrate supply for Ontario’s first lithium refinery, creating a domestic supply chain of lithium battery materials.
• Separation Rapids is especially interesting in that the deposit contains the rare high purity lithium aluminum silicate mineral, petalite, as well as lepidolite, which can serve both the global glass-ceramics industry and the battery materials sector.
• It strategically aligns with the Ontario Critical Minerals strategy, leading sustainability solutions with its unique lithium petalite deposit in Northwestern Ontario.