MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — Residents near a planned test production facility to produce battery-grade lithium east of Olds don’t have to worry about that material exploding, even though some lithium-ion batteries have done that, E3 Lithium CEO Chris Doornbos says.
Recently, some spectacular fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have gained huge traction online.
Doornbos told the Albertan such explosions or fires happen when there are impurities in the ingredients in those batteries.
He said the product E3 Lithium plans to ship out of their facility north of Reed Ranch School is not only high-purity, it’s also in a very stable form.
“The material that comes out of here is inert,” he said.
“The new carbonate is like table salt. You can put it on your hand, it’s fine, it’s completely inert.
“Whatever leaves here, there’s no risk of an explosion or fire or any of that sort of stuff.”
“It’ll go in a bulk bag, like a one-metre bag, sealed up tight, airtight, and go in a seacan. It’ll go on a truck to rail and go off wherever it needs to go,” he said.
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