Aqua Metals partners with Veolia North America Regeneration Services

Aqua Metals Inc., headquartered in McCarran, Nevada, has announced that it has signed a long-term contract with Veolia North America Regeneration Services LLC (VNA Regeneration Services), based in Boston, to provide operations, maintenance and management services at Aqua Metals’ AquaRefining facility in McCarran.

According to a news release issued by Aqua Metals, Veolia will contribute its operational and technological expertise and organizational capabilities in aqueous-based process chemistries and electrolysis. The company also will assume responsibility for operations, supply chain, offtake and management of the plant.

Veolia employees will begin working on-site at the McCarran plant starting March 4 with the goal of bringing plant operations to 16 modules of AquaRefining capacity by the end of 2019. Aqua Metals says additional rate increases are planned for 2020.

This partnership will expand VNA’s Regeneration Services business, which operates seven sites in North America.

“Veolia’s size and technical regeneration capabilities will provide valuable and additive expertise as we execute our business plan,” says Steve Cotton, president and CEO of Aqua Metals. “We chose to partner with Veolia for its well-deserved reputation as a global leader in operations management and its commitment to sustainability and the circular economy business model.

“Having Veolia manage operations at the McCarran plant facilitates our transition to the next phase of our business strategy, which is to become a capital-light technology licensing organization that expands AquaRefining technology into battery recycling centers across the globe,” he continues. “Licensing AquaRefining technology will enable battery recycling facilities to increase production to meet rising demand without increasing environmental impact. Recycling facilities will also gain the added value of producing a higher quality product with promising advantages for improving battery performance and lifecycle. We look forward to working with Veolia as a long-term strategic partner.”