First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (FSE: KD0) is pleased to announce that it has completed the commissioning of its pilot plant to produce phosphate concentrate to be used in the formulation of battery-grade purified phosphoric acid for use in the manufacture of lithium iron phosphate cathode active material for the LFP battery industry in North America.

The pilot plant uses fully solventless, environmentally friendly extraction methods. It is located at the facilities of SGS Canada Inc. in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. A video of the pilot plant in operation is available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb9SGwdcyxw

“The commissioning of the pilot plant is a major milestone for First Phosphate in the processing of battery-grade purified phosphoric acid that will be used in the LFP homologation process with our partners,” commented First Phosphate President, Peter Kent.

“SGS is committed to First Phosphate as a trusted partner. The test work to-date has proven positive and we are happy to have completed this full pilot plant program with First Phosphate.” mentioned Dominique Lascelles, Director, Technical Services, at SGS.

After positive bench test results that demonstrated a recovery of 91.4% of its phosphate-bearing apatite to a concentrate containing 40.2% P₂O₅ (phosphate), the Company decided to setup the pilot plant to process a large bulk sample. A 15-tonne bulk sample was crushed to a diameter of 20 mm and sent to SGS. Based on 15 separate crushed rock specimens, the bulk sample assayed 7.6% P₂O₅ (phosphate) and 6.9% TiO₂ (titanium oxide).

The pilot plant optimises the Company’s metallurgical process for the production of a super high grade phosphate concentrate approaching 41% P2O5. The pilot plant has produced over 900 kilograms of apatite concentrate which have been sent to the facilities of Prayon SA in Belgium for the production of battery-grade purified phosphoric acid. The battery-grade PPA produced will then be sent to Company partners for homologation into their LFP cathode active material production processes. The pilot plant also produces valuable, marketable recoveries of ilmenite and magnetite.

As announced on February 23, 2023, First Phosphate and Prayon have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on several fronts including the production of battery grade PPA. Prayon is Europe’s largest producer of purified phosphoric acid.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdière, P.Geo. Mr. Laverdière is Chief Geologist for the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects.

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, at full ESG standard and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements.

About SGS Canada Inc.

SGS is the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,650 offices and laboratories around the world. SGS is constantly looking beyond customers’ and society’s expectations in order to deliver market leading services wherever they are needed. SGS believes in working together with clients to make the world a better, safer place.