Firebird Metals Limited (ASX: FRB) has announced a significant operational milestone with the successful preparation of the first manganese feedstock for its Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP). The feedstock, sourced from the company’s 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project in Western Australia, will facilitate the initial demonstration-scale testwork at the Osborne Park facility. Firebird Metals Limited is an Australian battery materials technology company developing advanced manganese-based lithium-ion battery materials for the EV and energy-storage markets. Its proprietary technology enables the direct processing of manganese concentrate to cathode active materials (CAM) within a single integrated process line.
The prepared Oakover ore, which underwent crushing, wet-milling, screening, drying, and homogenisation, is a crucial step in validating Firebird’s integrated pathway. This pathway aims to transform manganese ore into high-purity manganese chemicals and advanced battery materials. A representative subsample of this feedstock has been airfreighted to Firebird’s pilot plant and R&D facility in Hunan, China. There, it will be incorporated into an October 2026 technical program involving the company’s Australian Technical Lead, Dr. Chris Passmore. This program is designed to focus on process demonstration, technical knowledge transfer, and the operational expertise required to support the ADP’s successful commissioning and operation.
The company confirmed that the assembly, installation, and commissioning of the ADP remain on schedule for Q4 CY2026. This timeline is supported by the expected arrival of the first container of plant equipment at Fremantle Port in early October, with initial sample production targeted for Q1 CY2027. Firebird CEO, Mr Ron Mitchell, remarked that preparing the first feedstock from Oakover represents “an important milestone in the execution of our integrated strategy,” demonstrating a clear pathway from Australian ore to high-purity manganese chemicals and advanced battery materials. The Oakover Manganese Project itself is underpinned by an 18-year mine life, with a Net Present Value (NPV) of A$741 million and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 73%.
