Electra and Three Fires Group Launch Canada’s First Indigenous-Led Battery Recycling Initiative

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Electra and Three Fires Group Advance Canada’s First Indigenous-Led Battery Recycling Venture

June 12, 2025 07:00 ET | Source: Electra Battery Materials Corporation

TORONTO, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Electra Battery Materials Corporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V: ELBM) and the Three Fires Group have announced significant progress on the Aki Battery Recycling joint venture, marking the first Indigenous-led lithium-ion battery recycling initiative in Canada. Aki is pioneering a low-emission, circular solution for managing battery waste, which will strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on offshore processing.

Since launching the joint venture in 2024, several key milestones and strategic developments have been achieved:

– The formal establishment of Canada’s first Indigenous-led lithium-ion battery recycling venture, with Reggie George appointed as President and Andre Marais as Director of Strategy & Corporate Development.
– The shortlisting of technology partners following site visits and comprehensive due diligence on advanced battery recycling platforms.
– Ongoing collaboration with government partners to secure funding for a bankable feasibility study.
– Evaluation of prospective sites, with plans to either co-locate or situate the facility near lithium-ion battery manufacturers and on or close to First Nations lands to maximize regional impact.
– Integration with Electra’s hydrometallurgical refinery, facilitating local processing of black mass into battery-grade materials for OEMs, thereby establishing a fully Canadian closed-loop supply chain.

Under the Aki Battery Recycling joint venture, Three Fires Group and Electra are working together to create a First Nations-led lithium-ion battery recycling company. Aki will process end-of-life and manufacturing scrap lithium-ion batteries at a state-of-the-art pre-processing facility, enabling the production of high-grade copper, aluminum, and steel products through a dismantling process. The residual material will undergo shredding to yield a high-value intermediate product known as black mass. This black mass, which contains critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite, can be separated into saleable products through further refining.

The black mass produced at the pre-processing facility will be processed at Electra’s hydrometallurgical refinery located north of Toronto, with the refined materials returned to battery manufacturers to establish a localized closed-loop supply chain.

Reggie George, President of Aki, brings over a decade of experience in project management and capital raising. A member of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, Mr. George has a strong track record with startups in emerging technologies and has been involved in over C$3 billion in infrastructure and development projects in Ontario through his work with the Three Fires Group. Andre Marais, appointed as Director of Strategy & Corporate Development for Aki, has more than 15 years of experience in both technical and commercial roles.

At the core of Aki Battery Recycling is a commitment to Indigenous economic participation within the growing battery supply chain. The joint venture aims to create meaningful, long-term benefits for First Nations communities while pursuing innovation to enhance the sustainability of the critical minerals supply chain.

“First Nations participation in Canada’s emerging clean energy economy is essential,” said Reggie George. “The Aki partnership is rooted in mutual respect, shared benefit, and environmental accountability. Lithium-ion battery recycling aligns with traditional values of stewardship and responsibility for the land. By reclaiming materials and minimizing waste, Aki embodies a regenerative model of economic growth that supports both people and the planet.”

Three Fires Group will lead efforts in capital sourcing and site selection for an environmentally friendly recycling facility in Southern Ontario. Electra’s role includes providing technical and commercial expertise, as well as a refining solution to ensure that critical minerals from recycled batteries remain within the domestic supply chain.

Designed for scalability and replication, Aki’s pre-processing facility plans to expand operations in response to the growing demand for lithium-ion battery recycling. Initially, the proposed facility will recycle enough lithium-ion battery scrap to supply up to 100,000 new electric vehicles each year.

“Ontario currently has no battery recycling capabilities, even as projections show the province could generate up to 30,000 tonnes of battery scrap annually by 2030,” stated Andre Marais. “By aligning recycling capacity growth with gigafactory expansion, Aki addresses a critical supply chain gap and positions Ontario as a leader in the responsible recovery of battery materials essential to the energy transition.”

Aki has compiled a shortlist of technology partners committed to low-emissions processing and high-quality black mass production. Site selection is progressing, focusing on a limited number of locations in Southern Ontario near emerging gigafactories, thereby maximizing proximity to key customers and economic benefits for surrounding communities.

Building on the joint venture’s initial scoping study, Aki is currently engaged in discussions with government partners to secure funding for a bankable feasibility study on the pre-processing facility. The project aligns well with several Canadian funding streams, including regional economic development programs and Indigenous loan guarantee programs at both federal and provincial levels, many of which prioritize clean technology and Indigenous-led infrastructure.

Electra’s hydrometallurgical refinery will process the black mass produced by Aki, which is expected to create one of the lowest carbon footprint recycling supply chains in the world. The black mass will be treated using Electra’s proprietary process to recover critical minerals that can then be reintroduced into the battery supply chain.

“The integration of Aki’s upstream black mass production with Electra’s downstream hydrometallurgical refining creates a vertically aligned, closed-loop system optimized for efficiency, traceability, and material recovery,” remarked Dr. George Puvvada, Technology Adviser to Aki Battery Recycling. “This alignment ensures feedstock consistency and process compatibility, enabling higher recoveries of battery-grade materials that meet OEM specifications for reintegration into North American cell production.”

Unlike most other North American pre-processing facilities, Aki will primarily operate on a tolling fee basis through long-term contracts, establishing a strong alignment of interests with battery manufacturers and ensuring that Aki achieves a consistent return, independent of commodity prices.

“The current bidding model for battery scrap widely used in North America is unsustainable,” said Michael Insulan, Vice President, Commercial, at Electra. “Offshore recyclers with substantial financial backing and government subsidies can outbid domestic players, undermining competition and market efficiency. In contrast, long-term tolling agreements offer a more stable and scalable alternative, providing predictability in feedstock volume and composition, and enabling greater operational efficiency over time.”

Currently, most black mass produced in North America is exported to China for processing into battery-grade materials for Asian supply chains. The collaboration between Aki and Electra will reinforce Canada’s capacity to retain and reuse critical minerals, supporting domestic industrial growth and aligning with Canadian economic growth policies while reducing carbon emissions associated with material transportation.

“The Aki venture has rapidly evolved from vision to execution,” concluded Reggie George. “We are building something that addresses both economic and environmental imperatives while placing Indigenous leadership at the forefront of the clean energy transition.”

About Aki Battery Recycling

Aki Battery Recycling, a joint venture between the Three Fires Group and Electra Battery Materials, is dedicated to advancing lithium-ion battery scrap and waste recycling in North America. Located in Southwestern Ontario, on the treaty territory of the Confederacy of the Three Fires, we leverage our partners’ expertise to create sustainable solutions that recover valuable materials from end-of-life batteries and scrap. Aki will shred batteries and scrap at a pre-treatment facility, producing a mix of materials including black mass rich in lithium, nickel, cobalt, and other critical minerals. This black mass can then be sold to Electra for further processing into valuable products for the EV battery supply chain. Aki Battery Recycling is committed to driving the circular economy and fostering a cleaner, greener future. To learn more, visit [www.akirecycling.com](http://www.akirecycling.com).

About the Three Fires Group

The Three Fires Group focuses on creating wealth and prosperity from economic and infrastructure opportunities for current and future generations. Through its Climate Action Investment Policy, the Three Fires Group supports First Nation investments in clean energy projects that align with the Ontario government’s energy supply acquisition strategy. The Three Fires Group provided technical and investment assistance for the recently announced Three Fires Nations-Ontario Southwestern Ontario Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities Table, a collaborative effort to develop clean energy infrastructure in Southern Ontario, including investments for Ontario’s first large-scale electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants, five new regional transmission lines, and an upcoming fleet of battery energy storage systems. For more information about the Three Fires Group, please visit [www.threefires.com](http://www.threefires.com).

About Electra Battery Materials

Electra is a leader in advancing North America’s critical minerals supply chain for lithium-ion batteries. Currently focused on developing North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery, Electra is executing a phased strategy to localize critical minerals refining and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. In addition to establishing the cobalt sulfate refinery, Electra’s strategy includes nickel refining and battery recycling. Growth projects involve integrating black mass recycling at its existing refining complex, evaluating opportunities for cobalt production in Bécancour, Quebec, and exploring nickel sulfate production potential in North America. For more information, please visit [www.ElectraBMC.com](http://www.ElectraBMC.com).
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