Avalon Appoints Veteran Renewables and Clean-Tech Executive to Board of Directors
Avalon Appoints Veteran Renewables and
Clean-Tech Executive to Board of Directors
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2023) - Consistent with its strategic objective to build
Ontario's first vertically integrated lithium supply chain serving the North American EV battery market,
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
(TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company is pleased
to announce the appointment of
Timothy Haig
to its Board of Directors.
Timothy Haig - Background
Mr. Haig is currently the CEO and founder of FORGE Hydrocarbon Corporation
He has raised over $500m in growth capital for several companies both public and private
Holds expertise in industrial process optimization, early-stage financing and technology scale-up
Brings deep experience in non-carbon intensive, alternative energy commercialization
"We welcome Mr. Haig's extensive knowledge and firsthand experience in bringing complex, innovative
processes into production, something he has done multiple times in the fields of renewable and low-
carbon fuel technologies," said Scott Monteith, Chief Executive Officer, Avalon. "He's a visionary in clean
energy development, with a reputation for uncompromising integrity. We look forward to his contributions
to the Board and Avalon's senior leadership team."
As CEO of FORGE Hydrocarbon Corp., Mr. Haig has brought to market a proprietary, patented process
for transforming lipids into renewable diesel, a technology first developed by the University of Alberta. He
also served as a board member and interim CEO of GreenMantra Technologies from 2013-15, where
he raised capital to commercialize the company's molecular recycling technology that transforms plastics
into specialty polymer additives for industrial applications.
Prior to that, Mr. Haig was co-founder of BIOX Corp., a renewable fuels company that was founded on a
technology developed at the University of Toronto. The executive successfully took an idea from lab
patent in 2000 to a public company in 2010. Mr. Haig subsequently helped take BIOX Corp. private in
2017, merging the enterprise with the second-largest renewable fuels producer in North America.
Mr. Haig holds an industrial engineering degree (PEng.) from the Royal Military College of Canada, and
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from London City University. He served for more than a
decade in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, in
various officer positions.
"Mr. Haig's skillset speaks directly to the technological, commercial and overall strategic credentials
Avalon is bringing in house as we advance our plans to bring an ambitious and exciting vision to reality,"
Mr. Monteith added.
Avalon would also like to extend its sincere gratitude to
John E. Fisher,
who has stepped down from the
Board of Directors. Mr. Fisher joined the board in February 2020, providing valuable counsel in his time
with the Company. Avalon is grateful for his contributions.
Closing the Mid-Stream Gap
One of Avalon's core strategic objectives is to build a mid-stream lithium processing solution that
bridges the upstream lithium resources of northwestern Ontario with the downstream EV battery
manufacturing in the southwest. Central to that strategy is Avalon's 383-acre industrial property located in
Thunder Bay, ON., which features major transportation infrastructure including road, rail and deep-water
port access. Avalon further envisions an Industrial Park concept on-site that will include Ontario's first
lithium processing facility, a Technology & Innovation Center, as well as lithium battery recycling
capabilities, all of which will support Ontario's Critical Minerals Strategy, generate long-term job growth
and deploy world leading, innovative lithium process technology.
Innovative, Sustainable Processing
Avalon is diligently working with leading international partners like Metso Corp. to test and co-create
innovative commercial production processes that will help solidify Canada's environmental leadership.
Through the R&D efforts undertaken by Avalon and partners, the Company's proprietary lithium
hydroxide process is vastly less pollutive than conventional acid roasting conversion methodologies. The
process operates in an alkaline state and utilizes a pressure leaching process which is unique for lithium
conversion, allowing for the elimination of sulfuric acid use, and therefore no production of sodium
sulphate as a biproduct. Instead, a substance called Analcime-an inert solid aluminium silicate-is
produced, as well as calcium carbonate. Both substances have use in industrial building applications
and industries. The method also reduces overall air emissions compared to conventional hydroxide
production.
In addition, it is expected to be a safer process for the operating personnel, the environment and
community in general compared to the traditional acid roasting technology employed in jurisdictions with
less stringent commitments to environmental stewardship compared to North America.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company focused on vertically
integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain. The Company, through its joint venture with Sibelco NV, is
currently developing its Separation Rapids lithium deposit near Kenora, ON, while also continuing to
advance the Lilypad and Snowbank lithium projects located near Fort Hope, ON.
Avalon is also working
to develop its Nechalacho rare earths and zirconium project located in the Northwest Territories. This
deposit contains critical minerals for use in advanced technologies in the communications and defense
industries among other sectors.
In addition to these upstream activities, Avalon is executing on a key initiative to develop Ontario's first
midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility in Thunder Bay, ON, a vital link bridging the lithium
resources of the north with downstream EV battery manufacturing customers and markets in the south.
Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. Avalon is listed on the
(TSX: AVL) and (OTCQB: AVLNF).
For more information and media inquiries, please contact Jim Jaques, Chief Administrative
Officer, Avalon Advanced Materials at 416-318-1904 or
.
Forward-Looking Information
This presentation contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information with
respect to the development of the Company's material lithium projects, including the construction of
the Company's lithium processing facility', expected capital expenditures, operations outlook,
expected benefits from the facility the transition to a green economy, job creation, successful
development of a lithium supply chain, governmental support, sustainable processing practices,
environmental benefits, , requirements for additional capital, the Company's capital allocation;, and
government regulation of mining operations. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or
"does not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue",
"convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or
"expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves",
"increase", "intends", "justification", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "promise", "prospective",
"prioritize", "reflects", "robust", "scheduled", "suggesting", "support", "top-tier", "updating", "upside",
"will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including
risks associated with mineral exploration and development operations such as: environmental
hazards and economic factors as they affect the cost and success of the Company's capital
expenditures, the ability of the Company to obtain required permits and approvals, the ability of the
Company to obtain financing, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, uncertainty with
respect to the ability to successfully construct and develop the Company's lithium processing facility,
the price of lithium, no operating history, no operating revenue and negative cash flow, land title risk,
the market price of the Company's securities, the economic feasibility of the Company's mineral
resources and the Company's commercial viability, inflation and uncertain global economic
conditions, uncertain geo-political shifts and risks, successful collaboration with indigenous
communities, future pandemics and other health crises, dependence on management and other
highly skilled personnel, title to the Company's mineral properties, the ongoing war in Ukraine,
extensive government and environmental regulation, reliance on artificial intelligence technology to
influence mining operations, volatility in the financial markets, uninsured risks, climate change, threat
of legal proceedings, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information
form of the Company dated November 28, 2022 (the "AIF") under the heading "Description of the
Business - Risk Factors". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions,
estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of
trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management
believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are
made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and
expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not
be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such
expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions identified in the AIF,
assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: management of certain of the
Company's assets by other companies or joint venture partners, the Company's ability to carry on its
exploration and development activities without undue delays or unbudgeted costs, the ability of the
Company to obtain sufficient qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-
effective manner, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner, the
ability of the Company to obtain all necessary financing on acceptable terms and when needed, the
accuracy of the Company's resource estimates and geological, operational and price assumptions on
which these are based and the continuance of the regulatory framework regarding environmental
manners. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and
assumptions that may have been used. Although the Company has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities
laws.
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