Arizona Lithium Limited, a company focused on the sustainable development of two large lithium development projects in North America, the Big Sandy Lithium Project (“Big Sandy”) and the Prairie Lithium Project (“Prairie”), today held an official grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony of the Lithium Research Center in Tempe, Arizona.
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Arizona Lithium was joined at the ribbon cutting event by federal and state government officials as well as local economic development leaders including the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, key industry leaders such as Joe Lowry, President, Global Lithium, senior investment bankers, engineering faculty from Arizona State University and other stakeholders.
The Research Center is focused on technological advancements in lithium processing and will advance the battery materials industry in Arizona. The facility includes a 20,451-square-foot building for R&D, including a 3,982-square-foot research laboratory and a 16,469-square-foot processing facility for lithium chemicals. The facility will create over 20 highly-skilled jobs and support the development of the Big Sandy Project, which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in Wikieup, Arizona.
The Lithium Research Center is functioning as a technology incubator focused on the extraction of lithium from both the Prairie Project in Saskatchewan and the Big Sandy Project in Arizona. The Lithium Research Center has the capability to perform all of the processing steps for battery grade lithium carbonate.
“We are very excited to be officially opening the Lithium Research Center (LRC),” said Paul Lloyd, Managing Director, Arizona Lithium. “The facility has been operational for a period of time and has hosted government and industry leaders, who have all been very impressed with the personnel and operations at the LRC. We have been overwhelmed with the support of the Arizona government and our partner for the event, the ACA. We strongly believe the LRC is critical to the company in order to test and optimize our Lithium processing technologies and ultimately produce Lithium from both of our major projects, Prairie and Big Sandy, in the most economic and sustainable manner.”
“We are proud to celebrate the grand opening of the Lithium Research Center,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Arizona Lithium marks yet another international company investing in Arizona, showcasing the state’s global attractiveness. The Tempe facility strengthens Arizona’s mining and materials industry and highlights our leadership in clean energy technologies, such as batteries.”
“Arizona Lithium enters Tempe at a time in which Greater Phoenix is surging as a national hub for battery activity,” said Chris Camacho, President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “The company’s research, test work and processing capabilities are going to play a key role in elevating the ecosystem around Arizona.”
