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Avalon and Fort William First Nation Sign Letter of Intent to Collaborate on Development of Thunder Bay Lithium Refinery
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2021) -   Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. ...
About this update from Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Avalon and Fort William First Nation Sign Letter of Intent to Collaborate on Development of Thunder Bay Lithium RefineryToronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2021) -  Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) and (OTCQB: AVLND) (\"Avalon\") is pleased to announce it has entered into a Letter of Intent (\"LOI\") with Fort William First Nation (\"FWFN\") to collaborate on the development of a lithium battery materials refinery located on industrial lands owned by FWFN in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This facility would be designed to accept lithium mineral concentrates from Avalon's Separation Rapids Lithium Project (70 km north of Kenora) and Rock Tech's Georgia Lake Lithium Project (145 km northeast of Thunder Bay), as well as potentially other emerging, new lithium mining operations in northern Ontario, to produce lithium hydroxide and other lithium battery materials. Avalon and FWFN have determined the next steps would be as follows:Identification of a specific location for the refinery on the waterfront with access to transportation infrastructure, hydro-power and natural gas.Conduct the necessary engineering, site preparation and construction design studies to prepare for initiation of refinery construction in 2022, once all necessary permits and authorizations are in place.Finalize the initial design capacity facility of the refinery once firm off-take commitments have been secured from interested battery manufacturers and design the facility to accommodate future expansion as demand for the products increases. The anticipated initial design capacity will be to produce at least 15,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide and/or lithium carbonate as well as lithium sulphate, the precursor chemical for making either the carbonate or hydroxide. Secure the necessary capital required to proceed with construction in 2022.Avalon's President and CEO, Don Bubar commented, \"We are delighted to have the opportunity to create a new precedent for collaboration with Indigenous Business toward establishing a lithium battery materials supply chain in Northern Ontario. I share FWFN Chief Peter Collins' vision for how this operation can inspire other Indigenous Businesses to become future suppliers of lithium mineral concentrates for the refinery and how FWFN can become the Hub of the North for all First Nation communities in Northwes...