Simon Linge

Perth-based battery technology company and recycler Lithium Australia has appointed an experienced executive and recycling expert as its Chief Executive Officer. Simon Linge has 25 years’ senior management experience within the Bluescope Group and BHP, and most recently was an executive at Pact Group Holdings. He takes the helm of Lithium Australia in coming weeks and will be based in Melbourne.

Lithium Australia has grown its Envirostream battery recycling feed sources through new partnerships with LG and Battery World. With permits and feed stock being key barriers to entry Lithium Australia has set itself up for an entrenched and fully permitted position in the fast growing industry sector. Its Envirostream battery recycling plant has a 99-year Victorian EPA permit.

Lithium Australia has entered into a binding agreement to sell its 30 per cent share in the Lake Johnston lithium project to Charger Metals as the company concentrates on its battery recycling portfolio. The agreement will see Charger take 100 per cent control of the project to the west of Norseman in WA and grants Lithium Australia first right of refusal for offtake of up to 30 per cent of lithium produced at the site.

Battery metals company Lithium Australia has boosted revenue by more than 40 per cent in the second half of calendar year 2022 compared to the corresponding period in 2021. The WA-based ASX-listed company, whose interests encompass several aspects of the so-called “green energy revolution”, also slashed its losses in that same period according to the company’s latest half-year accounts.

Lithium Australia is one step closer to bringing its lithium ferro phosphate cathode powder pre-qualification plant to reality after results from independent testing confirmed its product proved more stable than the two leading commercial brands. The combination of commercial grade graphite and LFP demonstrated the potential to support long-lifetime cell designs. The testing was undertaken by NOVONIX Battery Technology Solutions as part of a customer joint materials selection program.

Lithium Australia will fill its coffers to the tune of more than half a million dollars after entering into a binding agreement to sell 70 per cent of its Lepidolite Hill lithium project to Eastern Resources. It will see Lithium Australia collect $550,000 in three tranches and allow it to put further focus on improving technology associated with the battery materials industry.

A new deal locked away with mining heavyweight Mineral Resources has sent Lithium Australia’s share price flying this morning, MinRes has agreed to help progress Lithium Australia’s lithium extraction technology, “LieNA” by solely funding the development and operation of a pilot plant up to the value of $4.5 million, in addition to providing the raw materials.

Newly-appointed Lithium Australia managing director Simon Linge has vowed to fast-track the company’s development as the Perth-based battery innovator moves to commercialise its patented technologies. Mr Linge has more than 25 years of global manufacturing, recycling and engineering services experience and as the company’s chief executive officer, contributed to the landmark development agreement signed earlier this month with mining heavyweight Mineral Resources.

A significant increase in recycling division sales has doubled Lithium Australia’s annual revenue in the past financial year to $5.5 million, up from $2.5 million during the previous reporting period. Associated sales costs were also cut by $600,000 down to $4 million, resulting in a gross profit of $1.5 million for the year compared to a gross loss last year of $1.7 million.

Independent testing by Novonix Battery Technology Solutions has found Lithium Australia’s lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cathode material to be of high quality – either matching or exceeding competitor products across the key parameters of capacity, stability and high temperature performance. Tests suggest the company’s product is an attractive alternative in the existing LFP supply chain, which is heavily concentrated in China.

A record breaking 29 per cent increase in battery collection, an agreement with MinRes and the fifth consecutive quarter of gross profits have rounded a solid quarter for Lithium Australia. The company collected a whopping 413 tonnes of batteries last quarter, with higher-margin Lithium-ion batteries representing 44 per cent of collections that it will harvest lucrative battery metals from.