Equipment Orders Placed for Australian Demonstration Plant
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
16 June 2026
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ALL KEY EQUIPMENT ORDERS PLACED FOR
AUSTRALIAN DEMONSTRATION PLANT
Unlocks first payment of ARENA grant funding with ADP on schedule
• All key equipment ordered: All key long lead equipment orders placed for Firebird's
Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP), kicking off a short-term fabrication and Factory
Acceptance Testing (FAT) program.
• ARENA Milestone 1 on track: Key deliverables nearing completion, including
execution of intercompany agreements and placement of all long-lead equipment
orders, with remaining requirements expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
• On schedule and on budget: ADP development remains on schedule and on budget,
with equipment shipment to Australia anticipated early Q4 2026.
• LMR results imminent: Initial Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR) cathode performance
results from the China Pilot Plant expected in coming weeks.
• Patent pipeline advancing: Additional manganese-based battery materials patent
applications progressing as Firebird expands its intellectual property portfolio.
• First fully integrated manganese-based battery materials plant: Strong strategic
partner engagement continues across OEMs, battery manufacturers and end-users.
Figure 1. Firebird proprietary manganese concentrate to high purity manganese sulphate, p-CAM
and CAM process.
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Australian-owned Firebird Metals Limited (“FRB”, “Firebird” or “the Company”) is
pleased to announce that formal equipment orders have been placed for all long-lead
items required to construct its Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP) in Perth, Western
Australia, completing key deliverables under Milestone 1 of the Company’s ARENA grant
funding and triggering the start of a catalyst-rich short term fabrication period.
All key equipment orders have been placed by Firebird’s wholly-owned Chinese
subsidiary, Jinshi Firebird Trading Co., Ltd, under a fully executed Intercompany
Procurement and Sourcing Agreement and an intercompany Equipment Export Sales
Contract, and cover four integrated equipment and services packages:
• High Purity Manganese Sulphate (HPMSM) and Precursor Cathode Active Material
(pCAM) pilot equipment, including synthesis reactors, crystallisation reactor,
centrifuges, filter presses, drying ovens, the central control system and supporting
balance-of-plant, supplied by Hunan Chengdu Automation Equipment Co., Ltd.
• Manganese-based Cathode Active Material (CAM) pilot equipment, including jet
mill, sand mill, spray dryer, box furnaces, tube furnaces, high-speed oscillating mill,
nitrogen generator and air compression package, supplied by Hunan
Zhongmanganese New Materials Technology Co., Ltd.
• Testing and analytical instruments, including atomic absorption spectrometer,
laser particle size analyser, tap density tester and supporting laboratory
equipment.
• Technical services, covering detailed design, equipment procurement support,
commissioning, sample production and operator training, to be provided by
specialist technical partners Changsha Yulang Technology Co., Ltd and Changsha
Ziya Technology Co., Ltd.
All equipment is being manufactured to Australian electrical, voltage, cable and safety
standards (415 V / 50 Hz three-phase, AS/NZS 3112 compliance for mobile equipment,
CCC- and CE-certified components from tier-one brands including Siemens, Schneider,
INVT and Jiangsu Guomao).
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Figure 2. All key equipment for the ADP has been ordered, replicating a proven advanced
manganese battery materials flowsheet from our China Pilot Plant.
Firebird CEO, Ron Mitchell, commented:
“Today’s placement of formal equipment orders marks the commencement of the busiest and
most transformative operational phase in Firebird’s history. The approximately 90-day
equipment fabrication period is not a passive waiting phase; rather, it represents a catalyst-
rich de-risking execution window during which multiple value-driving milestones are expected
to be delivered.
In addition, shareholders can look forward to the imminent release of LMR cathode
performance results from Firebird’s China pilot plant program, providing further validation of
the Company’s proprietary technology and downstream strategy. In parallel, Firebird will
progress through a series of Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) milestones across each major
equipment package, delivering important technical verification ahead of shipment and
installation here in Australia.
The Company also expects to advance its intellectual property portfolio through additional
patent lodgements and technical development initiatives, while continuing strategic
discussions with potential industry partners across the battery materials supply chain.
Importantly, key Milestone 1 deliverables under Firebird’s ARENA grant funding program are
being finalised, reinforcing the Company’s ability to execute against its development timetable.
The ADP remains on schedule and on budget, and Firebird maintains clear visibility toward
construction and commissioning activities at the Perth ADP this calendar year.
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As project execution accelerates, the Company anticipates hosting several site visits for
stakeholders including government representatives, strategic partners and potential
customers over the coming quarters, providing stakeholders with a firsthand view of Firebird’s
progress as it advances toward becoming a vertically integrated producer of advanced
manganese battery materials for the electrification and energy storage markets.”
Near-term Catalyst Sequence
The 90-day equipment manufacturing window is the most active operational period in
the Company’s history. Shareholders should expect a steady stream of material updates
across the period:
• Imminent: Initial LMR cathode performance results from the China Pilot Plant, to
be released as a separate market update.
• Fabrication phase (rolling, next ~90 days): Factory Acceptance Testing for HPMSM,
p-CAM and CAM equipment packages, with each anticipated as a discrete market
update.
• Ongoing: Further manganese-based battery materials patent application progress.
• H2 2026 onwards: Shipment, customs clearance and Fremantle site arrival of all
equipment, followed by construction and commissioning at the Perth ADP site.
• As they arise: Strategic partner updates, cash payments as part of the ARENA
milestone progression and broader corporate developments.
The indicative ADP catalyst timeline set out in Figure 3. FRB will refresh this in subsequent
announcements, indicating the next focus area.
Figure 3. Australian Demonstration Plant key catalyst timeline.
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Delivery Window and ARENA Milestone
Fabrication, inspection and delivery from the various equipment vendors is scheduled
across a 90-day window, following which the equipment will be shipped to Fremantle Port.
All key equipment is expected to arrive in Australia early Q4 2026, with construction and
commissioning of the ADP anticipated to commence soon thereafter.
The execution of the intercompany agreements and the placement of orders for all long-
lead items form part of the key deliverables for Milestone 1 of the Company’s non-dilutive,
cash-based ARENA grant funding, progressing the Company toward receipt of the
Milestone 1 cash payment. The ADP development timeline remains on schedule and on
budget.
Licence Agreement and Technology Patents
In conjunction with the equipment orders, Firebird has fully executed a licence agreement
that permits the export of the contracted equipment and grants Firebird exclusive use of
the associated technology patents that underpin the ADP process flowsheet. The licence
secures Firebird’s right to operate the ADP and produce battery-grade manganese
sulphate and manganese-based cathode materials at the Perth facility.
In addition, the Company is progressing further manganese-based battery materials
technology patent applications, which are expected to strengthen Firebird’s technology
development strategy as it positions for commercial deployment.
China Pilot Plant: LMR Cathode Development
Development work on the Company’s Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR) cathode technology
is ongoing at the China Pilot Plant. Initial performance results from this campaign are
expected to be released in the coming weeks and will be the subject of a separate market
update, the first of the catalyst sequence outlined above.
A First-of-Kind Plant
The ADP will be the first fully integrated manganese-based battery materials plant to be
built outside of China, producing both high purity manganese sulphate and finished
manganese-based cathode materials on a single site. As such, the ADP represents a
strategically significant asset in the global manganese-based battery materials supply
chain and a flagship demonstration of an end-to-end, non-China supply chain.
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Strategic Partner Interest
The Company continues to receive strong inbound interest from potential strategic
partners, including OEMs, battery producers and end-users seeking access to non-China
sources of manganese-based battery materials. Market engagement continues to
indicate strong future demand for manganese-based EV battery materials, underpinned
by the accelerating adoption of LMFP and LMR cathode chemistries. Firebird will provide
further updates on these discussions as material developments arise.
This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Firebird Metals
Limited.
For further information contact:
Ron Mitchell
CEO
E: ron.mitchell@firebirdmetals.com.au
Ph: +61 407 726 325
- END -
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About Firebird Metals Limited (ASX:FRB)
Firebird is a wholly owned Australian processing technology company focused on
advanced manganese-based lithium-ion battery materials positioned in the EV and
energy storage markets. Firebird has proprietary, fully patented technology that allows
for the direct processing of manganese ore to cathode active materials (CAM) within a
single facility and process line.
The Company’s state-of-the-art lab and research facility demonstrate full flow-sheet
capability, from manganese ore to finished battery active cathode materials. Firebird
pairs downstream processing know-how with proprietary technologies, including a high-
efficiency kiln and advanced crystallisation, targeting lower cost and energy use and
enabling near-term revenue via equipment sales and licensing.
Firebird is advancing a lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) and lithium manganese
rich (LMR) pathway to near-term production of high-purity manganese sulphate and an
LMR program for next-generation cathodes.
Firebird also holds 234 Mt of manganese resources in Western Australia, led by Oakover
(176.7 Mt at 9.9% Mn, including Indicated 105.8 Mt at 10.1% Mn) and Hill 616 (57.5 Mt at
12.2% Mn). The Company has the flexibility to source manganese ore through third-party
suppliers and stockpiles, with mining optionality retained within its broader portfolio.
JORC Compliance Statement
This announcement contains references to Mineral Resource Estimates, which have been
reported in compliance with Listing Rule 5.8 (Oakover: 23 March 2023 - Indicated
Resource of 105.8Mt at 10.1%; Inferred Resource of 70.9Mt at 9.6% for global Resource
of 176.7 Mt at 9.9% Mn; Hill 616: 1 December 2021 - Inferred Resource of 57.5 Mt at 12.2%
Mn) and extracted from previous ASX announcements. The Company confirms that it is
not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information
previously reported and that all material assumptions and technical parameters
underpinning the Mineral Resource Estimates continue to apply and have not materially
changed.
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