Managing Director Peter Allen says this latest achievement places Firebird in a small select group of non-Chinese owned companies to have produced LMFP batteries. "Manganese sulphate is a critical element within LMFP and our manganese processing knowledge and IP enables Firebird to drive significant value by co-precipitation," Allen says. "We expect our process to translate into substantial cost advantages in sulphate production by bypassing the manganese sulphate crystallisation process, which is the largest component of our operating cost. "This streamlined approach not only reduces costs but also results in a superior quality LMFP product, strengthening our position as a cost-effective, high-quality leader in the market." Eliminating packaging and crystallisation steps within the sulphate process equates to a 32% or US$167 ($269) per tonne saving in projected manganese sulphate operating costs.