Magmec’s Net Zero partnership

Research and innovation

Students at Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre using equipment

To support its mission, Magmec has partnered with the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC) at Teesside University.

Challenge

To reduce dependence on carbon-intensive mining and long global supply chains, Magmec is focused on developing sustainable, localised technologies to extract magnesium from brine streams. However, this goal demands robust research into the technical, economic and environmental performance of the process. The company needed specialist expertise and advanced modelling to help scale its innovation while ensuring commercial viability and environmental integrity.

Solution

Through Teesside University’s paid internship programme, Magmec is collaborating with graduate chemical engineers Verity Hoe and Waahid Din, who are based at the NZIIC. The project is led by Dr Ellis Marshall and supervised by Dr Vishal Vats, combining academic insight with practical innovation.

The research team is advancing processes for magnesium salt collection and conducting comprehensive technoeconomic modelling and life-cycle assessments. By analysing multiple brine sources, the team aims to identify the most cost-effective and low-emission pathways for magnesium production. The partnership makes use of NZIIC’s world-class facilities and is directly aligned with Magmec’s commercial goals, with oversight from David Fourie, Magmec’s Chief Technology Officer.

Impact

This collaboration strengthens Magmec’s research and development foundation, and accelerates its mission to decarbonise the magnesium supply chain by shifting from traditional mining to circular recovery from industrial waste. The project contributes to real-world impact aligned with the Research Excellence Framework – delivering sustainable innovation, industrial relevance, and economic value.

Critical minerals are an important topic to all of us. Securing these supply chains is paramount if we want to protect our national security and maintain economic growth. We are proud of this collaboration with NZIIC to advance our brine-to-metal solution, bringing localised magnesium supply to regions that need it most. Our patented pyrometallurgical process is far more energy-efficient than traditional methods, offering a more sustainable metal to the market.

Yousef Gorji, Magmec

The target of Net Zero requires innovation across all platforms and sectors, and arguably none is more important than critical minerals that underpin our modern technological society. It is exciting to work with an agile, fast-paced and research-focused business like Magmec. The positive impact on the magnesium supply chain is evident, and we look forward to further partnership. The interns provided by Teesside University are world-class and deliver sustainable solutions and innovative processes in our world-class facilities.

Dr Ellis Marshall, NZIIC