The project is designed to recover high-value metals — including lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite — from both manufacturing scrap and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. Electra’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process, tested through extensive pilot programs, underpins the recycling approach. The company’s commercial plans are supported in part by Natural Resources Canada funding.
One key differentiator for Electra is its integrated approach. Cobalt recovered from the recycling operation will feed directly into its cobalt sulfate refinery — one of few permitted facilities of its kind in North America — which already has financial backing from Canadian and U.S. defense programs.
This model reduces the need to export strategic minerals for processing abroad — a supply chain vulnerability in the current battery materials ecosystem, where Asia dominates refining capacity. As battery manufacturing ramps up across North America, this kind of domestic capability is increasingly seen as essential for energy security.
Beyond electric vehicles, the plant’s output will target markets including military batteries, backup power systems, and advanced energy storage for grid stabilization — segments where reliability and resilience are paramount.
The facility will process black mass — a powder derived from shredded batteries — using modular technology developed with Singapore-based partner Green Li-ion. Enhancements made during this collaboration give Electra proprietary advantages in the recycling process, allowing the company to offer value beyond basic metals recovery.
Electra is also advancing upstream supply chain integration through a joint venture with the Three Fires Group, an Indigenous economic development corporation. The Aki Battery Recycling partnership will manage battery collection and shredding, providing a dedicated source of black mass for Electra’s plant.
This collaboration brings multiple benefits: Indigenous communities gain access to long-term economic opportunities in the battery sector, while Electra strengthens domestic supply chain resilience and reduces reliance on imported black mass. The venture also supports responsible recycling practices aligned with sustainability goals.
Supply chain diversification remains a strategic priority given ongoing geopolitical risks. Establishing local preprocessing capabilities allows North American recyclers to mitigate exposure to foreign-controlled supply chains while enhancing transparency and traceability — both key considerations for automakers and battery OEMs under growing regulatory scrutiny.
Electra plans to present the recycling plant study to downstream partners, including battery manufacturers and OEMs, to validate project scale and secure offtake agreements. Their input will influence final capacity decisions and project timelines.
The company’s integrated refinery complex positions it as an early mover in North America’s limited battery recycling sector. While Asian markets currently dominate global capacity, regulatory trends and industrial policy in the U.S. and Canada are pushing for more local processing.
