Firebird Metals Hits ADP Feedstock Milestone Ahead of Q4 Commissioning
Key Takeaways
- Firebird Metals has successfully prepared the first manganese feedstock for its Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP), using ore crushed, wet-milled, screened, dried and homogenised from its 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project in Western Australia.
- The first container of ADP equipment has departed China and is expected to arrive at Fremantle Port in early October 2026, with site-readiness activities at Osborne Park nearing completion.
- An October 2026 technical program in Hunan, China will focus on process demonstration and knowledge transfer to Australia, led by Australian Technical Lead Dr Chris Passmore working alongside the China-based engineering team.
- First production of samples from the ADP is targeted for Q1 CY2027, following assembly, installation and commissioning scheduled for Q4 CY2026.
- The Oakover project underpins the investment case with a total resource of 176.7 Mt at 9.9% Mn, an NPV of A$741 million, an IRR of 73%, and an 18-year mine life — backed by a $2 million ARENA grant.
Firebird Metals reaches ADP feedstock milestone ahead of October technical program
Firebird Metals has successfully prepared the first manganese feedstock for its Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP), using ore sourced from its 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project in Western Australia. The milestone marks a tangible shift for the ADP from construction toward active commissioning, with equipment already in transit and a technical program scheduled to begin next month.
The Oakover ore was crushed, wet-milled, screened, dried and homogenised to achieve the required particle-size distribution and produce a consistent feedstock for demonstration-scale processing. A representative subsample has been airfreighted to Firebird’s pilot plant and R&D facility in Hunan, China, where it will be incorporated into an October 2026 technical program involving the company’s Australian Technical Lead, Dr Chris Passmore.
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ADP commissioning timeline and what’s coming next
The following milestones outline the near-term commissioning sequence investors should track:
- The first container of ADP equipment has departed China and is expected to arrive at Fremantle Port in early October 2026.
- Final site readiness activities at Osborne Park are nearing completion.
- October 2026: The technical program commences in Hunan, focusing on process demonstration and technical knowledge transfer, with Dr Passmore working alongside the China-based engineering team.
- Q4 CY2026: Assembly, installation and commissioning of the ADP remain on schedule.
- Q1 CY2027: First production of samples is targeted.
CEO Ron Mitchell
“Preparing the first feedstock for the ADP from Firebird’s 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project represents an important milestone in the execution of our integrated strategy. Manganese ore sourced from the Pilbara will be processed through our proprietary flowsheet, demonstrating a clear pathway from Australian ore to high-purity manganese chemicals and advanced battery materials.
“With the first shipment of ADP equipment now in transit and site-readiness activities at Osborne Park nearing completion, the technical program commencing in Hunan during October is well timed. Dr Passmore will work alongside our China-based engineering team to support process demonstration and the transfer of technical knowledge to Australia, positioning Firebird to commence assembly and commissioning of the ADP during the fourth quarter of 2026.”
Understanding the integrated ore-to-battery-materials pathway
Firebird’s core proposition is an integrated pathway that takes manganese ore from its own resource in the ground and converts it into advanced battery materials ready for next-generation electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage batteries. The ADP is the facility that will demonstrate this pathway at scale under Australian conditions.
The source announcement explicitly describes the ADP as Australia’s first demonstration-scale facility processing manganese concentrate into high-purity manganese sulphate (HPMS) and downstream battery materials, including cathode active material (CAM). The process moves through four broad stages:
The processing stage targets 99.99% HPMSM purity, a specification validated through customer testing and central to qualifying the ADP’s output for battery-grade supply chains.
| Stage | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Mining | Oakover ore | Manganese concentrate |
| Processing | Concentrate | High-purity manganese sulphate (HPMS) |
| Downstream | HPMS | Precursor-CAM and CAM |
| Application | CAM | LMFP / LMR batteries |
The end-use targets are lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) and lithium manganese rich (LMR) batteries, both considered next-generation chemistries for EVs and stationary energy storage. The project has received a $2 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Battery Breakthrough Initiative, providing external validation of its national significance.
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Oakover project economics underpin the investment case
The commercial foundation behind this milestone sits with the scale and quality of Firebird’s Oakover resource. The project hosts a total resource of 176.7 Mt at 9.9% Mn, including an Indicated resource of 105.8 Mt at 10.1% Mn, supporting an 18-year mine life.
Project economics are compelling on their face: a net present value (NPV) of A$741 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 73%. Firebird’s total WA manganese resource base reaches 234 Mt, with the Hill 616 deposit contributing 57.5 Mt at 12.2% Mn.
The flowsheet’s efficiency gains are driven in part by proprietary kiln technology that significantly reduces energy consumption relative to conventional manganese processing, a key factor in the ADP’s projected operating economics.
The company also retains flexibility to source manganese ore from third-party suppliers and stockpiles, meaning the ADP is not solely dependent on Oakover ore to operate. With feedstock prepared, equipment in transit, and commissioning targeted for Q4 CY2026, the ADP is moving from a project on paper toward a facility that will generate real commercial validation of the ore-to-battery-materials pathway.
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