Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (OTCQB: MNXXF) has announced it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with the National Research Council of Canada, E3 Lithium Ltd., NiVolt Technologies Inc., and POSCO America Corporation to develop lithium-manganese-rich cathode materials using Canadian critical-mineral feedstocks. The agreement, dated August 18, 2026, sees Manganese X contribute a 10-kilogram sample of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate derived from its Battery Hill project in Woodstock, New Brunswick. The CA$632,111 project is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027, and investors may be watching the initiative as a potential validation step for Battery Hill manganese in advanced battery supply chains.

Key Points

  • Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (OTCQB: MNXXF)
  • Company has entered a collaborative research agreement with the NRC, E3 Lithium, NiVolt Technologies, and POSCO to develop LMR cathode materials using Canadian critical-mineral feedstocks
  • Total project value CA$632,111; Manganese X contribution approximately CA$116,325; NRC contribution approximately CA$155,500; project scheduled to complete March 31, 2027
  • Investors may watch POSCO's technical verification outcomes and any indication of commercial-scale feedstock demand for Battery Hill-derived HPMSM

Battery Hill HPMSM Selected for Canadian LMR Cathode Development

High-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate produced from Manganese X's Battery Hill ore will be incorporated into advanced LMR cathode materials as part of the NRC-led program. Kemetco Research Inc. supplied the 10-kilogram HPMSM sample for the project. The NRC will use Canadian manganese, lithium, and nickel feedstocks to produce precursor cathode active material, cathode active material, and coin cells, which will then undergo characterisation and electrochemical performance testing, including evaluation of capacity retention and stability. The company's proprietary HPMSM beneficiation and processing flowsheet for Battery Hill is identified as Manganese X Background Intellectual Property under the agreement.

POSCO's Role in Technical Verification of Canadian Precursor Materials

POSCO America Corporation will conduct technical verification and performance assessment of the Canadian precursor and cathode materials at its research and development facilities. The release notes that POSCO's battery-materials affiliate, POSCO Future M, has announced completion of its own LMR cathode materials development, making POSCO's involvement in evaluating Battery Hill-derived HPMSM particularly relevant to the project. The disclosure states that participation in the program does not constitute an endorsement of Manganese X or its products, and that no participant is obliged to enter into any future qualification, supply, or offtake arrangement.

Integrated Canadian Battery Supply Chain Demonstrated Through Multi-Partner Structure

The agreement brings together producers spanning manganese, lithium, and nickel alongside the NRC's advanced research capabilities and POSCO's industrial validation expertise. E3 Lithium contributes Canadian battery-grade lithium carbonate from its Clearwater Lithium Project in Alberta, while NiVolt Technologies supplies Canadian nickel sulfate. The Woodstock area manganese deposits, including Battery Hill, collectively represent the largest manganese resource in North America, according to a University of New Brunswick thesis cited in the announcement. Manganese X's CEO Martin Kepman credited the NRC with organising the multi-party collaborative research agreement, as stated in the release.