Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. has entered a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Electra Battery Materials Corporation to process cobalt-bearing silver concentrates at Electra’s Ontario cobalt sulfate refinery. This agreement represents a strategic move towards recovering valuable metals from legacy mining sites, addressing both critical mineral supply challenges and the environmental remediation of historic mining operations.
Under the MOU, Nord Precious Metals Mining will utilize Electra’s refinery to extract silver and battery-grade materials from mining tailings and waste rock through a gravity concentration process. The collaboration outlines key operational parameters, including technical cooperation on process optimization, the establishment of commercial processing terms, adherence to environmental compliance standards, and the integration of operational protocols. This initiative aligns with Ontario’s updated Recovery Permit system, which facilitates the regulatory process for reprocessing tailings and waste rock while upholding environmental standards.
Electra Battery Materials is developing North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery in Ontario, currently undergoing expansion to enhance its production capabilities. The facility is designed to produce battery-grade cobalt sulfate from ethically sourced raw materials, supporting the establishment of a domestic battery materials supply chain and contributing to sustainable resource recovery efforts.
“The technical validation of our gravity concentration process, combined with Electra’s refining capabilities, creates a practical pathway for recovering critical minerals while remediating historic mining sites,” said Frank J. Basa, P.Eng., CEO of Nord Precious Metals. “This addresses two pressing challenges: securing new sources of battery metals and managing legacy environmental issues.”
“This opportunity with Nord aligns with Electra’s commitment to onshoring critical minerals and building a resilient North American supply chain,” said Trent Mell, CEO of Electra Battery Materials. “Our site’s existing infrastructure, along with the flexibility within our operating permits, provides Electra the opportunity and potential to process different cobalt containing feedstocks. As part of our long-term strategy, we are evaluating additional North American sources for future supply. By leveraging our refining expertise, we aim to unlock value from historic mining materials while advancing the clean energy transition.”
The technical details of this agreement were overseen by Frank J. Basa, P.Eng., ensuring compliance with National Instrument 43-101 standards. Nord Precious Metals operates the only permitted high-grade milling facility in Ontario’s historic Cobalt Camp, integrating silver discovery with strategic metals recovery operations. The company’s proprietary Re-2Ox hydrometallurgical process enables the production of technical-grade cobalt sulfate and nickel-manganese-cobalt formulations, positioning Nord to meet the growing demand for battery materials.
Source: Electra BMC
