International Battery Metals Ltd. announced the appointment of Garry Flowers as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Flowers succeeds IBAT founder Dr. John Burba, who remains Executive Chairman as well as becoming Director of Global Technology and will focus on the deployment of IBAT's lithium extraction plants as well as the expansion of IBAT's family of patents, and technology development including lithium processing. Mr. Flowers has served as IBAT's President since June, 2022 and as a member of the Company's advisory board since April, 2021.

IBAT has achieved remarkable progress over the past 10 months, advancing from the assembly of its first-ever modular direct lithium extraction (MDLE) plant in March, 2022, to full systems testing in April and to extracting lithium chloride (LiCl) from brine in mid-May. In September, SLR Consulting, a global leader in environmental and engineering services, completed an independent review and verification of IBAT's technology. Prior to joining IBAT, Mr. Flowers served as Executive Vice President of Operations and oversaw a combined global workforce of 10,000 people for Fluor Corporation, a global leader in engineering, construction and project management.

Previously, as President and CEO of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions -- a subsidiary of Fluor, Northrup Grumman and Honeywell -- Mr. Flowers managed a $3 billion annual contract and a total headcount of 9,000. Mr. Flowers brings proven expertise in engineering design construction, sustainable development, construction technology, field human resources, performance management and cost control. As Director of Global Technology, Dr. Burba will be responsible for the deployment of IBAT's commercial-scale modular plants.

As currently configured, IBAT's first mobile lithium extraction plant has the potential to produce 5,000 metric tons of commercial-grade lithium chloride per year, on a lithium carbonate equivalent basis. Its economical, modular design allows the technology to be deployed more rapidly and at far lower capex, than traditional lithium processing methods. Further, the modular design allows for IBAT's technology to be scaled up quickly to extract lithium from the world's largest resources.