First Shipment Ahead of Schedule as ADP Advances
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
2 September 2026
1
FIRST SHIPMENT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AS THE
AUSTRALIAN DEMONSTRATION PLANT ADVANCES
First Container of ADP Equipment Clears Customs and Sets Sail for Australia
Highlights
• First container of Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP) equipment is now on its way
to Australia, with the vessel’s estimated arrival date at Fremantle Port early October.
• Packing of the container was completed approximately two weeks ahead of schedule
at the Company’s China-based R&D Centre, followed by inspection and export clearance.
• Subsequent containers of ADP equipment will be dispatched in the coming months as
each equipment package completes fabrication and Factory Acceptance Testing.
• All equipment remains on schedule, with assembly, installation and commissioning of
the ADP equipment anticipated for Q4 CY2026.
• Final site readiness activities at Osborne Park are nearing completion ahead of the
arrival of all key equipment.
• The ADP will demonstrate a first-of-a-kind (outside China), fully integrated advanced
manganese battery materials processing circuit, converting manganese concentrate
into high-purity manganese sulphate (HPMSM) and downstream battery materials,
including cathode active material (CAM).
Figure 1. The first Firebird ADP equipment container the Company’s China-based R&D facility.
2 September 2026
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Australian-owned Firebird Metals Limited (“FRB”, “Firebird” or “the Company”) is
pleased to announce that the first container of equipment for its Australian Demonstration
Plant (ADP) has cleared customs and is now on the water, sailing to Australia. The vessel’s
estimated arrival date at Fremantle Port is early October.
Packing of the first container was completed approximately two weeks ahead of schedule at
the Company’s China-based R&D facility, followed by inspection and export clearance.
Subsequent containers of ADP equipment will be dispatched in the coming months as each
of the remaining equipment packages completes fabrication and Factory Acceptance
Testing, with each shipment expected to be the subject of discrete market updates.
In parallel, final site readiness activities at the Company’s Osborne Park facility are nearing
completion, ensuring the site is prepared for the arrival, installation and commissioning of
all key ADP equipment.
All ADP equipment remains on schedule, with assembly and commissioning
commencement of the ADP equipment anticipated for Q4 CY2026, followed by first
production of samples in Q1 CY2027.
Once assembled, the ADP will demonstrate a first-of-a-kind (outside China), fully integrated
advanced manganese battery materials processing circuit, converting manganese
concentrate into high-purity manganese sulphate (HPMSM) and downstream battery
materials, including cathode active material (CAM), within a single integrated process line.
Figure 2. The first Firebird ADP equipment container awaiting loading at the port in China.
2 September 2026
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Firebird CEO, Mr Ron Mitchell, commented:
“Seeing the first container of ADP equipment clear customs and set sail for Australia is a moment
of real significance for Firebird and its shareholders. This shipment marks the transition from
fabrication towards delivery and achieving it ahead of schedule is a credit to our engineering
team and vendor partners.
With final site readiness activities at Osborne Park nearing completion, we are well positioned to
receive, assemble and commence commissioning of the ADP in the fourth quarter of this year.
Each subsequent container that departs China over the coming months brings us a step closer to
demonstrating a first-of-a-kind (outside China), fully integrated advanced manganese battery
materials processing circuit.”
Figure 3. The first Firebird ADP equipment container being loaded in China.
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The Company will provide further updates on the vessel’s estimated arrival date,
subsequent equipment shipments and the completion of site readiness activities as the ADP
advances towards assembly and commissioning.
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 -
2 September 2026
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About Firebird Metals Limited (ASX:FRB)
Firebird is an Australian battery materials technology company developing advanced
manganese-based lithium-ion battery materials for the EV and energy-storage
markets. Its proprietary, patented and exclusively licensed technology enables the
direct processing of manganese concentrate to cathode active materials (CAM) within a
single integrated process line, pairing a high-efficiency kiln and advanced crystallisation
with downstream processing know-how to target lower cost and energy use.
The Company's immediate focus is delivery of its Australian Demonstration Plant
(ADP) in Perth, supported by a $2 million grant from the Australian Renewable
Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Battery Breakthrough Initiative. The ADP, Australia's
first demonstration-scale facility processing manganese concentrate into high-purity
manganese sulphate (HPMSM) and downstream battery materials, including CAM, is
advancing rapidly through 2026. It builds on Firebird's operating pilot facility, which has
demonstrated the full flowsheet from manganese ore to high-performance CAM, and
will validate the process under Australian conditions while delivering HPMSM and
cathode samples for customer qualification.
Firebird is advancing near-term HPMSM production for the lithium manganese iron
phosphate (LMFP) market, alongside a lithium manganese rich (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% Mn1
) and Hill 616 (57.5 Mt
at 12.2% Mn2
). 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 and extracted from previous ASX
announcements as referenced. 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.
1
See ASX announcement dated 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.
2
See ASX announcement dated 1 December 2021: Inferred Resource of 57.5 Mt at 12.2% Mn.
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