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Highlights

  • Li-S Energy has successfully produced Australia’s first lithium metal foils at its Geelong facility, ahead of schedule under a AUD 1.76 million Industry Growth Program grant.

  • The new capability eliminates reliance on imported foils, enhancing battery cell quality, cost efficiency, and national supply chain resilience.

  • LIS share price surged 15.4% to AUD 0.15 on 11 July 2025 following the announcement.

Li-S Energy Limited (ASX:LIS) recorded a 15.4% rise in its share price to AUD 0.15 on 11 July 2025 after announcing a major breakthrough in domestic battery manufacturing. The company has successfully produced Australia’s first lithium metal foils at its Geelong battery facility, marking a significant milestone in its effort to build a sovereign supply chain for advanced battery technologies.

This achievement was delivered ahead of schedule under a AUD 1.76 million matched funding grant from the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program. The lithium metal foils are a critical component for high-performance lithium-sulfur and lithium-metal batteries, and this new in-house capability allows Li-S Energy to reduce reliance on international suppliers, cut material lead times, and improve the quality and performance of its cells.

The company’s new manufacturing equipment has enabled the production of 100-micron thick pure lithium foils, a key advancement that provides Li-S with greater control over foil purity and thickness. This tighter control supports higher throughput in the company’s pouch cell line, improves safety, and enhances battery performance. The initiative also opens new commercial opportunities in global markets seeking high-purity lithium foil.

Li-S Energy’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Steve Rowlands, highlighted the importance of the new capability: “By producing foils in-house, we have tighter control over thickness, purity and handling conditions – all of which are critical for performance and safety.” He added that the milestone accelerates development of custom anode designs and supports rapid technology iterations.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Lee Finniear described the breakthrough as a transformative moment for Australia’s battery industry. “We are proud to be the first company in the country to produce lithium foils – a critical component for the future of high energy density batteries,” Finniear stated. “This strengthens the resilience of Australian manufacturing and enhances our cost structure, while creating export opportunities in the global lithium supply chain.”

The lithium metal foil manufacturing capability is part of a broader roadmap to expand Li-S Energy’s production infrastructure. The next phase of the Industry Growth Program project will involve installation of additional equipment to roll, laminate, and coat the lithium foils. This expansion will broaden the company’s product range and support the commercialisation of its proprietary nano-material coating technologies.

Li-S Energy’s domestic production capabilities also support key strategic sectors including aerospace, defence, and electric aviation. The company plans to make its Australian-produced lithium foils available to research institutions and commercial R&D organisations focused on advancing battery technology.