TSX-V-listed Giyani Metals, which is developing the K. Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana, has announced the successful production of high-purity manganese oxide (HPMO) at its demonstration (demo) plant in Johannesburg.

The production of HPMO, which serves as a precursor for high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), marks a significant development in the company's efforts to capitalise on the rapidly growing market for electric vehicle and energy storage system batteries.

The produced HPMO is particularly relevant to the development of lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate (LMFP) and lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide (LMNO) batteries, which are increasingly in demand.

While HPMSM is the preferred precursor for nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries, both HPMO and HPMSM can be used to produce LMFP and LMNO batteries.

Giyani plans to ship samples of HPMO to prospective offtake partners in March.

The company has also received indications of demand for HPMO from original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) groups.

To meet the growing demands of the battery market, Giyani intends to produce both HPMO and HPMSM. This strategy provides the company with technological and product flexibility, allowing it to stay ahead in an evolving industry and serve a range of potential future battery types.

The demo plant is expected to produce HPMSM during the first quarter. Samples of HPMSM will be provided to potential offtakers for qualification trials as part of the offtake process, a crucial component in securing project financing.

The secondary objective of the demo plant is to help derisk the design of the future commercial plant, which will be constructed in Botswana. This will proceed in parallel with the definitive feasibility study, which is expected to be completed this year.

The Giyani team is attending the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference, in Toronto, this week, where they have a full schedule of meetings with offtakers, investors and strategic partners.

"Production of HPMO from the demo plant is a huge milestone. It proves the flowsheet at this precommercial scale, confirms Giyani’s technological optionality to be able to serve the rapidly evolving battery industry, and diversifies Giyani’s product risk. Now onto the next step of producing HPMSM.”

“The commercial advantages of producing multiple battery-grade manganese products cannot be overstated. The battery market is moving exponentially quickly, and the dual capability of being able to produce both HPMO and HPMSM allows Giyani to position itself as a preferred supplier in this fast-paced industry.

“LMFP battery demand is increasing and will likely take a large market share from LFP batteries, and in turn will increase demand for battery-grade manganese in both HPMSM and HPMO form," Giyani Metals president and CEO Charles FitzRoy said on March 3.