ASX-listed Firebird Metals’ subsidiary Hunan Firebird Battery Technologies has received a safety permit for Stage 1 of a proposed battery-grade manganese sulphate plant in China.

The plant will use third-party manganese ore to produce high-purity manganese sulphate.

“As we continue to efficiently advance the necessary permits for our battery-grade manganese sulphate plant, I am pleased to announce that we have received the first of three critical permits, being the safety permit, and expect the remaining two permits to be received by the end of June.

“We are moving at a rapid pace on the ground in China and that is due to the hard work of our leading manganese team and the strong level of in-country support we have and continue to receive,” says Firebird MD Peter Allen.

Eight major permits are required for construction and operation of the plant.

The safety permit is one of three critical permits required to start construction, with the other two being environmental and energy permits.

An environmental-impact permit report has been completed and has gone through initial expert panel review, with full approval expected within the June quarter.

An energy consumption report has also been completed and has been lodged with the local Jinshi government, with full approval also expected within the June quarter.

Firebird avers that the efficient receipt of the safety permit and the advanced status of the remaining key permits highlights the strong in-country support the company has to establish it as a key high-purity manganese sulphate producer in the country.

Once all permits are obtained and following a final investment decision, which is anticipated to be made in the second half of the year, Firebird will be ready to immediately start construction of the sulphate plant, with completion projected to take 12 to 15 months and operations expected to start in late 2025.

The company’s battery-grade high-purity manganese feasibility study released in early May showed projected capital expenditure of $83.5-million.