Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) has announced it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with the National Research Council of Canada, POSCO America Corporation, E3 Lithium Ltd., and NiVolt Technologies Inc. to develop lithium-manganese-rich cathode materials using Canadian critical-mineral feedstocks. The company is contributing 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 places Battery Hill manganese at the centre of an integrated Canadian battery materials supply chain, with technical validation to be conducted by global steel and battery-materials giant POSCO.

Key Points

  • Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN | OTCQB: MNXXF | FSE: 9SC)
  • The company signed a collaborative research agreement dated August 18, 2026, with the NRC, POSCO America, E3 Lithium, and NiVolt Technologies to develop LMR cathode materials using Canadian feedstocks
  • Total project value is CA$632,111; Manganese X's contribution is valued at approximately CA$116,325; the project is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027
  • Investors may be watching for POSCO's technical verification results and any downstream qualification or supply developments

Battery Hill HPMSM at the Core of a CA$632,111 NRC Research Programme

Kemetco Research Inc. supplied 10 kilograms of Manganese X's Battery Hill high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate for the collaborative programme. 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 capacity retention and stability evaluation. Manganese X's contribution to the project is valued at approximately CA$116,325, while the NRC's contribution is approximately CA$155,500, with additional NRC funding arrangements applicable to eligible participants.

POSCO's Technical Validation Role and LMR Cathode Relevance

POSCO America Corporation will conduct technical verification and performance assessment of the Canadian precursor and cathode materials at its research and development facilities. The disclosure notes that POSCO's battery-materials affiliate POSCO Future M has announced the completion of development of lithium-manganese-rich cathode materials, making POSCO's involvement particularly relevant to validating Battery Hill-derived feedstocks. LMR cathodes use a higher proportion of manganese and less nickel and cobalt than conventional high-nickel cathodes, a characteristic that positions Battery Hill's manganese resource as a potentially strategic input for next-generation battery chemistries.

Battery Hill's Position as North America's Largest Manganese Resource

The manganese deposits in the Woodstock area of New Brunswick, which include Battery Hill, collectively represent the largest manganese resource in North America, according to a University of New Brunswick thesis cited in the release. The company's proprietary HPMSM beneficiation and processing flowsheet for Battery Hill is specifically identified as Manganese X Background Intellectual Property under the agreement. The scientific and technical content in the announcement was reviewed and approved by Perry MacKinnon, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.