International Battery Metals (IBAT) has announced the appointment of Iris Jancik as Chief Executive Officer, effective mid-August. Jancik will focus on expanding the commercial deployment of IBAT’s patented modular direct lithium extraction (DLE) plants.
IBAT recently installed its first commercial lithium production plant, co-located at US Magnesium’s operations outside Salt Lake City, Utah. The DLE plant, with an initial design capacity of 5,000 metric tons per year, is currently being commissioned and is expected to begin lithium production in June. This plant processes brine from lithium-containing waste-magnesium salts, with the lithium chloride product feeding high-purity lithium carbonate production by US Mag. It represents the first commercial DLE plant in North America and the first modular DLE plant globally.
“I am excited to join IBAT at such a pivotal moment,” said Jancik. “With increasing battery demand, there is a need for a fundamental change in lithium production, and IBAT’s technology offers efficiency, sustainability, and scalability.”
Jancik previously served as CEO of IDE Americas, where she oversaw major infrastructure projects, including the Carlsbad Desalination Plant in California. She holds an MBA in international business from Texas A&M University.
Dr. John Burba, founder, CTO, and director of IBAT, expressed confidence in Jancik’s leadership, highlighting her expertise in water infrastructure, a core component of IBAT’s DLE process. Jancik succeeds Garry Flowers, who has been credited with advancing IBAT’s technology to its first commercial phase.
IBAT’s modular DLE plants can be deployed in 18 months, significantly faster than the five to six years required for conventional plants. The technology extracts over 97% of available lithium from brine and recycles up to 98% of water, protecting sensitive water resources.
Global lithium demand is projected to surpass 2.4 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2030. IBAT’s technology positions it to meet this growing demand efficiently and sustainably. 
