Critical Resources Unveils Lithium Growth and Next-Gen Cooling Tech at TechKnow Roadshow
Critical Resources (ASX:CRR) spotlighted its multi-commodity pipeline and breakthrough battery cooling technology at the July 2026 TechKnow Invest Roadshow, highlighting exploration progress and exclusive global licensing deals.
- Diversified lithium, gold, tungsten projects across Australia, Canada, New Zealand
- Exclusive 10-year global licence for two-phase spray cooling technology
- Solid-state lithium-ion battery development with validated lab milestones
- Mavis Lake Lithium resource expansion and multiple high-potential drill targets
- Advanced thermal management tech aimed at AI-era data centres
Multi-Commodity Portfolio Driving Exploration Momentum
Critical Resources Limited (ASX:CRR) presented a comprehensive update at the TechKnow Invest Roadshow in Melbourne and Sydney, underscoring its diversified critical minerals portfolio and cutting-edge battery technology ambitions. The company’s assets span the Mavis Lake Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada, the Halls Peak Base Metals Project in New South Wales, and a broad gold-tungsten-antimony portfolio across New Zealand’s Otago and Reefton regions.
The Mavis Lake project remains a cornerstone, boasting an inferred resource of 8 million tonnes at 1.07% Li2O, with an exploration target stretching up to 37 million tonnes at grades between 0.8% and 1.2%. The northern prospects, including Gullwing and Tot pegmatites, are shaping up as fertile grounds for resource growth, supported by extensive drilling and geological modelling. This multi-deposit lithium district approach positions CRR well within the North American supply chain.
New Zealand Gold and Tungsten Projects Offer High-Impact Targets
In New Zealand, CRR’s portfolio includes the Cap Burn gold project, just 11 kilometres from OceanaGold’s Macraes operation, where first-pass RC drilling has confirmed an orogenic gold system analogous to the nearby Rise & Shine discovery by Santana Minerals. The company plans follow-up drilling in Q3 2026 to test down-plunge targets identified by a renewed structural model.
The Croesus project in the Reefton region combines high-grade gold assays up to 28.9 g/t and tungsten-rich greisen systems with samples reaching 42.6% WO3. These findings, alongside a cluster of historic mines and infrastructure, underpin a compelling exploration story in a Tier-1 jurisdiction with low holding costs and strong community support.
Exclusive Two-Phase Spray Cooling Licence Targets AI Data Centres
Beyond mining, Critical Resources is advancing a proprietary thermal management technology licensed exclusively worldwide for 10 years from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. The two-phase spray cooling system offers a step-change in data centre heat removal, boasting up to 1,000 times more heat dissipation than natural convection and 20 times more than next-generation single-phase direct-to-chip cooling.
This chiller-free, closed-loop cooling solution reduces total site energy consumption by 25.8% in lab tests, eliminates evaporative water loss, and supports higher compute densities essential for escalating AI server rack power demands. The staged development pathway aims for a modular prototype by Q4 2026, scaling to full data centre deployment thereafter.
Solid-State Battery Technology Progressing Rapidly
CRR’s solid-state lithium-ion battery program is gaining traction, with recent peer-reviewed validation of its dry supersonic deposition (DSD) cathode technology confirming a solvent- and binder-free manufacturing process. This innovation promises cleaner, cheaper production compared to traditional sulphide electrolytes, which are toxic and costly.
The company’s proprietary amorphous solid electrolyte (ASE) achieves ionic conductivity competitive with sulphide-class materials while avoiding hazardous components. Lab results demonstrate 1,200 hours of interface stability at room temperature and successful assembly of full-format pouch cells, with ongoing electrochemical testing underway. These milestones de-risk the technology’s commercial potential and open avenues for partnerships.
Strategic Leadership and Shareholder Alignment
Critical Resources highlights its aligned leadership team, with management and directors holding approximately 11.7% ownership, reflecting confidence in the company’s multi-commodity strategy and technology pipeline. The company’s market capitalisation stands at around A$22.36 million with a share price near 0.7 cents as of late July 2026.
With multiple drill targets across its projects and a capital-light approach to technology commercialisation via licensing, CRR is positioning itself at the nexus of critical minerals supply and next-generation energy and computing technologies.
Bottom Line?
Critical Resources is advancing a rare blend of mineral exploration and breakthrough battery cooling and solid-state technologies, but technology milestones remain aspirational and will require validation beyond lab scale.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drill results at Cap Burn and Mavis Lake confirm resource expansion potential?
- How soon can the two-phase spray cooling prototype demonstrate scalability and commercial viability?
- What partnerships or licensing deals might emerge from CRR’s solid-state battery and thermal management IP?
