Aqua Metals and Impossible Metals Sign MOU to Advance Sustainable U.S. Critical Minerals Supply Chain
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Impossible Metals to develop a sustainable U.S. critical minerals supply chain. The partnership combines Impossible Metals' selective seabed mineral collection technology with Aqua Metals' AquaRefining™ platform.
The collaboration aims to establish a domestic supply chain for essential resources including nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements. Impossible Metals will utilize its Eureka III autonomous underwater robotics platform for nodule collection, while Aqua Metals will leverage its proven expertise in delivering battery-grade materials through its low-carbon, closed-loop refining process.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) ha firmato un Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) con Impossible Metals per sviluppare una catena di approvvigionamento statunitense sostenibile di minerali critici. La partnership unisce la tecnologia di raccolta selettiva di minerali dal fondo marino di Impossible Metals con la piattaforma AquaRefining™ di Aqua Metals.
La collaborazione mira a creare una catena di approvvigionamento interna per risorse essenziali come nichel, cobalto, rame, manganese e terre rare. Impossible Metals utilizzerà la sua piattaforma di robotica sottomarina autonoma Eureka III per la raccolta dei noduli, mentre Aqua Metals sfrutterà la sua comprovata competenza nel fornire materiali di livello batteria tramite il suo processo di raffinazione a basso contenuto di carbonio in ciclo chiuso.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) ha suscrito un Memorando de Entendimiento (MOU) con Impossible Metals para desarrollar una cadena de suministro de minerales críticos sostenible en EE. UU. La asociación combina la tecnología de recopilación selectiva de minerales en el lecho marino de Impossible Metals con la plataforma AquaRefining™ de Aqua Metals.
La colaboración apunta a establecer una cadena de suministro doméstica para recursos esenciales, como níquel, cobalto, cobre, manganeso y elementos tierras raras. Impossible Metals utilizará su plataforma de robótica submarina autónoma Eureka III para la recolección de nódulos, mientras que Aqua Metals aprovechará su experiencia comprobada en entregar materiales de grado batería a través de su proceso de refinación de ciclo cerrado y bajo carbono.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS)가 Impossible Metals와 미국의 지속 가능한 주요 광물 공급망 개발을 위한 양해각서(MOU)를 체결했습니다. 이 파트너십은 Impossible Metals의 해저 광물 선택 채굴 기술과 Aqua Metals의 AquaRefining™ 플랫폼을 결합합니다.
협력의 목표는 니켈, 코발트, 구리, 망간, 희토류 등을 포함한 필수 자원의 국내 공급망을 구축하는 것입니다. Impossible Metals는 노듈 채집을 위한 자율 수중 로봇 공정인 Eureka III를 활용하고, Aqua Metals는 저탄소 순환형 정제 공정을 통해 배터리급 소재를 공급하는 검증된 역량을 활용할 것입니다.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) a signé un protocole d’accord (MOU) avec Impossible Metals pour développer une chaîne d’approvisionnement durable en minéraux critiques aux États‑Unis. Ce partenariat réunit la technologie de collecte sélective de minéraux des fonds marins d’Impossible Metals avec la plateforme AquaRefining™ d’Aqua Metals.
La collaboration vise à établir une chaîne d’approvisionnement domestique pour des ressources essentielles telles que le nickel, le cobalt, le cuivre, le manganèse et les éléments des terres rares. Impossible Metals utilisera sa plateforme de robotique sous-marine autonome Eureka III pour la collecte des nodules, tandis qu’Aqua Metals s’appuiera sur son expertise reconnue pour livrer des matériaux de grade batterie via son procédé de raffinage en boucle fermée et à faible émission de carbone.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) hat eine Absichtserklärung (MOU) mit Impossible Metals unterzeichnet, um eine nachhaltige amerikanische Lieferkette für kritische Mineralien zu entwickeln. Die Partnerschaft verbindet Impossible Metals' selektive Tiefsee-Mineral-Sammeltechnologie mit der AquaRefining™-Plattform von Aqua Metals.
Ziel der Zusammenarbeit ist der Aufbau einer inländischen Lieferkette für essentielle Ressourcen wie Nickel, Kobalt, Kupfer, Mangan und Seltene Erden. Impossible Metals wird seine Eureka IIIAutonome Unterwasserroboter-Plattform für die Nodulsammlung einsetzen, während Aqua Metals seine nachgewiesene Expertise bei der Bereitstellung von batteriegerechten Materialien durch seinen kohlenstoffarmen, Closed-Loop-Verfeinerungsprozess nutzt.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) وقعت مذكرة تفاهم مع Impossible Metals لتطوير سلسلة إمداد مستدامة للمعادن النادرة في الولايات المتحدة. تجمع الشراكة بين تقنية جمع المعادن من قاع المحيط لدى Impossible Metals ومنصة AquaRefining™ التابعة لـAqua Metals.
تهدف collaborations إلى إنشاء سلسلة إمداد محلية للموارد الأساسية مثل النيكل والكوبالت والنحاس والمنغنيز وعناصر الأرض النادرة. ستستخدم Impossible Metals منصتها الروبوتية البحرية autónoma للإلتقاط القِطع النودولية Eureka III، بينما ستعتمد Aqua Metals على خبرتها المثبتة في توفير مواد بمواصفات بطارية من خلال عملية التكرير ذات الدورة المغلقة منخفضة الكربون.
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) 已与 Impossible Metals 签署谅解备忘录（MOU），以开发美国的可持续关键矿物供应链。该伙伴关系将 Impossible Metals 的海底矿物筛选采集技术与 Aqua Metals 的 AquaRefining™ 平台相结合。
合作旨在为镍、钴、铜、锰和稀土等关键资源建立一个
- Partnership aims to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign critical minerals, particularly from China
- Combines proven AquaRefining technology with innovative seabed collection methods
- Potential to establish a fully domestic, environmentally responsible supply chain
- Expands Aqua Metals' feedstock opportunities beyond recycling
- Partnership is only at MOU stage with no binding commitments
- Commercial viability and timeline for implementation remain uncertain
- Seabed mining faces potential regulatory and environmental challenges
Insights
AQMS partners with Impossible Metals to develop domestic critical mineral supply chain, reducing foreign dependency through sustainable seabed mining and refining technologies.
This partnership between Aqua Metals and Impossible Metals represents a strategic move to address critical vulnerabilities in America's mineral supply chain. The MOU targets the development of a domestic supply pathway for essential electrification minerals including nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements - all currently dominated by foreign suppliers, particularly China.
The collaboration leverages complementary technologies: Impossible Metals contributes its selective harvesting approach for polymetallic nodules using the autonomous Eureka III platform, while Aqua Metals brings its proven AquaRefining™ technology - a closed-loop, low-carbon process already demonstrated effective for battery-grade metals production.
What makes this particularly significant is the vertical integration potential. Rather than simply securing mining rights, this partnership addresses the entire value chain from collection to refining, creating a complete domestic ecosystem. This approach directly supports recent federal initiatives to reduce critical mineral dependencies, including those outlined in the Defense Production Act and Inflation Reduction Act.
The timing aligns with intensifying global competition for these resources. With demand for nickel and cobalt projected to increase 4-6x by 2040 due to EV battery production, and China controlling approximately 80% of rare earth processing capacity, this partnership represents a meaningful step toward supply chain security, though commercial viability remains to be proven.
Partnership Would Combine Responsible Seabed Mining and Domestic Refining to Strengthen America’s Critical Mineral Independence
RENO, Nev., Sept. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS) (“Aqua Metals”), a leader in clean metals recycling, announced today it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Impossible Metals, Inc. (“Impossible Metals”), a pioneer in selective seabed mineral collection. The two companies will work together to evaluate a new pathway for producing and refining the minerals most vital to electrification, national defense, and clean energy technologies.
By pairing Impossible Metals’ innovative approach to responsibly harvesting polymetallic nodules from the deep-sea floor with Aqua Metals’ proprietary AquaRefining™ platform, the collaboration seeks to establish a fully domestic and environmentally responsible supply chain for essential resources such as nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements.
The partnership will explore:
- Strengthening U.S. supply chain resilience by developing sources of critical minerals independent of overseas control, particularly China.
- Applying breakthrough refining technology to process deep-sea nodules through Aqua Metals’ low-carbon, closed-loop AquaRefining™ process that minimizes waste and environmental impact.
- End-to-end solutions that span from resource collection in U.S. waters to refining into high-purity metals at Aqua Metals’ facilities.
- Future opportunities to expand the scope of collaboration and contribute to a more stable global minerals market.
Impossible Metals has been at the forefront of shaping policy for responsible seabed mining in U.S. federal waters and is advancing toward the commercial launch of Eureka III, its autonomous underwater robotics platform designed to collect nodules without disturbing visible life. Aqua Metals has already proven its ability to deliver battery-grade lithium, high-purity cobalt, and nickel from recycled black mass. The recycling company has recently expanded its development program to include alternative feedstocks, including nodules, refining residues, and ores, making it an ideal refining partner for Impossible Metals.
“This collaboration is a natural extension of our vision to create clean, scalable refining solutions that help secure America’s access to critical minerals,” said Steve Cotton, President and CEO of Aqua Metals. “By joining forces with Impossible Metals, we hope to bring a new domestic feedstock into the supply chain and ensure it is processed responsibly and sustainably here in the U.S.”
Oliver Gunasekara, CEO and Co-Founder of Impossible Metals, added, “We are committed to collecting resources in ways that respect the ocean ecosystem, and Aqua Metals shares our commitment to innovation with integrity. Together we seek to deliver the secure supply chain the U.S. needs to lead in energy transition and advanced manufacturing.”
The MOU represents an important step toward building a resilient, transparent, and sustainable critical minerals infrastructure — one that strengthens America’s position in the global energy economy.
About Impossible Metals
Impossible Metals (YC, Public Benefit Corporation) is a North American underwater robotics company unleashing sustainable critical minerals from the deep ocean. The company has built the Eureka Collection System, which is the world’s first autonomous underwater robotics platform for selectively collecting polymetallic nodules while preserving and protecting the marine ecosystem. Learn more at impossiblemetals.com.
About Aqua Metals
Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS) is reinventing metals recycling with its patented AquaRefining™ technology. The Company is focused on commercializing sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling that is non-polluting and closes the loop on critical minerals for clean energy technologies. Aqua Metals is based in Reno, Nevada, with facilities located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. For more information, visit www.aquametals.com.
Aqua Metals Social Media
Aqua Metals has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations website (https://ir.aquametals.com), in addition to its X, Threads, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts at https://x.com/AquaMetalsInc (@AquaMetalsInc), https://www.threads.net/@aquametalsinc (@aquametalsinc), https://www.linkedin.com/company/aqua-metals-limited and https://www.youtube.com/@AquaMetals respectively, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Aqua Metals, Inc. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that contain words such as "expects," "contemplates," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "potential," and variations of such words or similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes, or that do not relate to historical matters. Those forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, (1) the risk that we may not be able to successfully negotiate and conclude a definitive commercial agreement with Impossible Metals, (2) even if we are to conclude a definitive commercial agreement with Impossible Metals, the risk that we may not be able to realize the expected benefits of such arrangement; (3) the risk that we may not be able to acquire the funding necessary to maintain our current level of operations; and (4) those risks disclosed in the section "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2025. Aqua Metals cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur, except as required by law.
Contact Information
Investor Relations
Bob Meyers & Rob Fink
FNK IR
646-878-9204
aqms@fnkir.com
Media
David Regan
Aqua Metals
415-336-3553
david.regan@aquametals.com
FAQ
What is the purpose of the Aqua Metals (AQMS) and Impossible Metals partnership?
What types of minerals will AQMS and Impossible Metals extract and process?
How does Impossible Metals plan to collect deep-sea minerals?
What technology will Aqua Metals use to process the seabed minerals?
How does this partnership affect U.S. mineral independence from China?
