The test was conducted by Firebird’s Chinese subsidiary Hunan Firebird Battery Technology.
The trial, part of Taza’s due diligence for potentially acquiring Firebird’s energy-efficient calcining kiln, demonstrated significant energy savings. The kiln consumed only 230 kW per tonne, compared to over 400 kW per tonne for conventional rotary kilns, indicating a potential energy reduction of over 70% in commercial applications. Additionally, the process achieved a 95% manganese leaching rate, with approximately 1.5% residual manganese in the acid leaching residue.
Firebird managing director Peter Allen stated: “This trial work further demonstrates and validates clear industry demand for our innovative calcining kiln. Our kiln delivers energy savings that are crucial to the minerals processing industry – making this product potentially transformative for the market, and for our company.” He added: “Our commitment to efficiency, alongside our high-quality in-country partners, gives us the opportunity to become one of the lowest-cost battery-grade MnSO4 [manganese sulphate] producers, placing us in an incredibly competitive market position going forward.”
Taza, aiming to expand its high-purity manganese sulphate production, funded the test work to evaluate the kiln’s performance. The results affirm the technology’s quality and efficiency, supporting Taza’s equipment strategy for its manganese chemical production. Firebird’s calcining kiln, currently under international patent application, offers superior energy efficiency, with the pilot-scale kiln operating at 80–100 kWh per tonne for higher-grade ore, potentially cutting production costs by about $30 per tonne, or 5%.
The kiln’s scalable design is versatile, applicable to various ore types and industries, including iron ore beneficiation and lithium sulphate production. This flexibility enhances its potential to transform mineral processing by reducing energy costs and improving efficiency.
In March 2024, Firebird secured a mining lease for its Oakover manganese project, located 85km east of Newman in Western Australia. The successful test with Taza strengthens Firebird’s position in the global manganese market, supporting its strategy to produce low-cost, battery-grade manganese sulphate for the growing battery industry.
