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Highlights
- Scoping study confirms feasibility of a battery-grade HPMSM facility in Tokyo Bay, Japan.
- Strategic synergies with Nissan Chemical Corporation and NC Tokyo Bay Corporation enable key infrastructure access.
- HPMSM technology rollout supported by a multi-region development model starting with the US.
Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) has completed a high-level scoping study for a proposed battery-grade High Purity Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (HPMSM) facility in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The study, developed under an ongoing memorandum of understanding with Nissan Chemical Corporation and NC Tokyo Bay Corporation (NCTB), has confirmed the viability of constructing and operating the facility at a Tokyo Bay location. The result has prompted the parties involved to transition into a more detailed phase of project investigation, in accordance with the strategic framework laid out in the MoU.
The collaboration with NCTB brings distinct operational and logistical benefits to the project. NCTB’s existing sulphuric acid plant within the Chiba production facility can provide a direct source of acid supply, streamlining input requirements for HPMSM processing. Additionally, NCTB's extensive infrastructure includes access to utilities and a private berth equipped to handle both bulk and liquid cargo, optimising logistical efficiency and reducing dependency on external supply chain networks.
As the project progresses, several conditions outlined in the MoU must be fulfilled prior to reaching a final investment decision, anticipated around June 2026. These include securing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partnerships, formalising offtake agreements, and ensuring access to sufficient project finance. These milestones form the next critical phase of development for the Tokyo Bay HPMSM initiative, supported by strong infrastructure and co-location synergies with NCTB.
Element 25 is commercialising its proprietary technology to produce HPMSM for the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain. This manganese-based battery input is essential for manufacturing high-performance lithium-ion batteries, a key component in the accelerating global shift toward electrified transport. The company has already embarked on its first commercial facility in Louisiana, United States, where a HPMSM refinery is under development in partnership with General Motors LLC and Stellantis N.V. The Louisiana project aims to serve the expanding US EV market.
The Tokyo Bay facility represents part of Element 25’s broader “Design One Build Many” strategy. This model proposes a scalable hub-and-spoke system of regional HPMSM production facilities, each supplied with manganese ore from the company’s Butcherbird Mine located in Western Australia. This mine serves as a central feedstock source, ensuring a consistent raw material supply to regional refineries that can then deliver processed HPMSM directly into key battery manufacturing hubs.
The approach underscores a long-term vision to integrate upstream resource development with downstream processing capacity across multiple geographies. Element 25’s deployment strategy is designed to align with regional demand patterns, policy incentives, and EV manufacturing growth, enabling flexible delivery into diverse markets including North America, Asia, and Europe.
As the Tokyo Bay HPMSM facility moves forward into feasibility analysis, Element 25’s partnership with Nissan Chemical Corporation and NC Tokyo Bay Corporation positions the project to capitalise on Japan’s advanced industrial infrastructure and proximity to leading battery and automotive manufacturers. The initiative aligns with broader trends toward regionalisation of critical mineral processing and represents a strategic step in the evolution of Element 25’s international footprint in the battery materials supply chain.
