Industrial service provider Bilfinger has signed a letter of intent with Rock Tech Lithium to build Europe’s first lithium hydroxide converter. The production plant for battery-capable lithium hydroxide is to be built in Guben, Brandenburg, and once it is completed, it will produce 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually for the batteries of 500,000 electric cars. Bilfinger will be responsible for engineering, procurement and construction management services, while Rock Tech is building the plant, the planning of which is almost complete, according to today’s press release.
On October 11, 2021, Rock Tech Lithium announced the construction of Europe’s first lithium refinery and acquired the required area from the city of Guben. Some of the lithium to be processed there is said to come from the company’s deposit in Georgia Lake, Canada. The by-products of lithium hydroxide production are to be used in production, for example in the gypsum industry. Later, they want to recycle lithium themselves.
“Want to advance the battery age”
Bilfinger is banking on the growing production of electric car batteries and states: “The production of lithium hydroxide as a component of electric car batteries is essential for a climate-friendly mobility transition.” Rock Tech Lithium says: “The cooperation is another significant milestone for Rock Tech Lithium on its way to becoming a leading clean-tech company that supplies the automotive industry with high-purity lithium hydroxide. Together with Bilfinger we want to advance the battery age.”
Brandenburg is also the destination of the US electric car manufacturer Tesla, whose car factory in Grünheide near Berlin is scheduled to go into operation in the first quarter of 2022. In addition to car production, Tesla is also building a battery “gigafactory” for lithium batteries there.
(fpi)