The demonstration plant, which is scheduled to be complete by summer 2021, aims to showcase that high-purity manganese products can be produced there ahead of setting up a commercial plant.

"Once [the demonstration plant] is commissioned, we expect to begin the test phase of the supply chain qualification process for our high-purity manganese products", said Marco Romero, president and chief executive.

The Chvaletice project will re-process an anthropogenic manganese deposit hosted in historic mine tailings at the site.

All land for the planned Chvaletice commercial plant has now been secured, with three additional agreements signed for land purchase and leases, including a second rail line connection, added the company.

"We are also pleased to report the acquisition of three additional, but critically important pieces of land that complete our land assembly for the proposed Chvaletice commercial plant site," said Romero.

"These provide additional room and flexibility for the plant layout and will provide us with a second rail connection, through a neighbouring rail siding."

The company aims to become Europe's only primary producer of high-purity manganese products, for the lithium-ion battery industry and producers of specialty steel, high-technology chemicals and aluminum alloys.