Description
with ๐๏ธ Saad Dara - CEO and Founder of Mangrove Lithiumย
๐ง Mangrove Lithium produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate from a wide array of raw sources
What we covered:
๐ How Mangrove Lithium, initially focusing on water treatment and desalination, found the ideal product-market fit within the lithium industry.ย
โป๏ธ How the circularity of chemicals, environmental benefits, and potential for zero-emission processes play a crucial role in Mangrove's approach to lithium conversion.ย
๐ How Saad Dara spun the company out in 2017, completing his PhD in 2020, and is on the path to commercialization, aiming to co-locate and operate systems with lithium production companies.ย
๐ How the simplicity and flexibility of their operations sets them apart, with the ability to change feedstock and product quickly, offering more choices in a volatile lithium market.ย
๐ ๏ธ How their secret sauce lies not in membranes but in the cathode, providing unique value in energy consumption and purity, a major differentiator in the industry.ย
๐ Why their approach appeals to both small and large producers, offering a standardized, modular system that fits various scales, potentially serving as a cooperative refining platform.ย
๐ What makes them stand out in the global market is the possibility of bringing lithium refining to regions like North America and Europe, potentially altering the current China-dominated landscape.ย
๐ How their technology could redefine the lithium market by being a perfect fit for cooperative refining, an innovative model that could support smaller players as they grow.ย
๐ How modularity in plant design allows flexibility, optimizing both CAPEX and OPEX, from 3000 to 15,000 tons per year, and the thoughtful combination of modules based on needs.ย
๐ค Why taking a holistic and consultative approach to the supply chain, working side by side with partners, leads to a more successful and optimized process.ย
๐ What differentiates the company's electrochemical approach from other market players like Vulcan, and why their system is simpler and safer to operate.ย
๐ How focusing on demonstrating a 3000 tons per year system can remove market skepticism, and why operating at a commercially relevant scale and time period is crucial.ย
๐ก Why strong backing by BMW iVentures and Breakthrough Energy Ventures highlights confidence and credibility in the company's innovative approach - and how Bill Gates is cool (ok, I'm the one adding this)ย
๐ค What makes Mangroveโs โboxesโ unique and how they are working to prove their efficiency and effectiveness in real-world applications.ย
๐ค How the conversation unveils the company's vision, backing, synergies, and future plans, providing a multi-dimensional insight into the world of lithium processing and innovation.ย
๐ข How Lithium Valley emerged I coin a term for Vancouver's status as the lithium company capital, with a mystery Saad chalks up to community development.ย
๐ค What makes competitors collaborators: Saad discusses the complementary fit between Saltworks and Mangrove Lithium, shedding a competitive light on the cooperative spirit of the industry.ย
๐ How to get started with Mangrove Lithium
๐ค What makes the flexible model appealing: Saad explains Mangrove's customizable models for providing technology or production services, reflecting the company's adaptability in the growing lithium industry.ย
โป๏ธ Why all lithium sources are vital
๐ฅ ... and of course, we concluded with the ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ช๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฅ
๐ Come say hi to Saad on LinkedInย
๐ Check Mangrove Lithium's website
โก๏ธ Check out the entire article on how Mangrove Lithium is a Jewel in Bill Gates' crown ย
โก๏ธ Reach out to me: antoine@dww.showย
