American Manganese Inc. Announces Publication of Advanced Process Patent
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/14/12 -- Larry W. Reaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Manganese Inc. ("American Manganese" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AMY)(PINKSHEETS: AMYZF)(FRANKFURT: 2AM) is pleased to announce that the Company's Advanced Hydrometallurgical Process Patent Application developed by Kemetco Research Inc. has been published by the International Bureau at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), based in Geneva, Switzerland on February 23, 2012.
The publication can be viewed on WIPO's website on the following link:
http://www.wipo.int/patentscope/search/en/WO2012024294
The patent application describes key details in which manganese can be recovered from a low grade resource with the following key advantages:
-- Low energy requirement.
-- Low water use.
-- Robust process with a unique assembly of commercially available
equipment.
-- Suitable for production of high purity electrolytic manganese metal
(EMM) without the use of selenium, a toxic concentration found in
traditional Chinese EMM production.
-- Suitable for production of high purity electrolytic and chemical
manganese dioxide for use in high tech lithium ion batteries.
With the trend of increasing metal prices, decreasing resource grades and environmental regulations becoming stricter, ownership of this intellectual property creates significant opportunity for American Manganese on a world scale.
About Kemetco Research Inc.:
Kemetco Research is privately owned contract Research and Development Company specializing in extractive metallurgy, chemical processing and specialty chemical analysis. Kemetco was formed after the acquisition of the Industrial Process Division of BC Research. BC Research had been in operation for over 60 years as an R&D contractor in British Columbia, Canada.
About Manganese
China controls electrolytic manganese production supplying and producing 98% of the world's needs (3 billion pounds per year).
There is no substitute for manganese in steel (total manganese market greater than 33 billion pounds per year, fourth largest traded metal).
Manganese is the most critical metal at risk to supply and restriction in the United States as there is no U.S. production. EMM's greatest uses are the upgrading of specialty steel (74%), and the manufacture of aluminum alloys (12%) and electronics (2%).
Electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) for the battery industry is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the manganese market. Ford Motors predicts production of electric vehicles will account for 25% of its entire vehicle line-up by 2020, and Hyundai has committed a lifetime guarantee to their electric vehicles that use lithium ion batteries with manganese spinel.
China has a 20% export duty on EMM and the U.S. has a 14% import duty.
The current world price for electrolytic manganese metal is about $1.30 per pound, while the U.S. price is about $1.63 per pound.
About American Manganese Inc.
American Manganese Inc. is a diversified specialty and critical metal Company focusing on potentially becoming the lowest cost producer of electrolytic manganese metal from its Arizona Manganese Project.
This release has been reviewed by John W. Fisher, PEng, a qualified person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of Management
AMERICAN MANGANESE INC.
Larry W. Reaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer
This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the TSX-Venture Exchange, the British Columbia Securities Commission and the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The TSX-Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
American Manganese Inc.
Larry W. Reaugh
President and Chief Executive Officer
604-531-9639
American Manganese Inc.
Connie Fischer
Investor Relations
604-531-9639 ext. 110
connieir@amymn.com or info@amymn.com
www.americanmanganeseinc.com