AMG Lithium, a leading lithium producer, has opened Europe’s first lithium refinery in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany. The refinery, built in just over two years at a cost of 140 million euros, is expected to produce 20,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year. This quantity is enough to power 500,000 electric vehicles annually.
Most of the lithium used in the refinery will be sourced from Brazil, but the plan is to eventually use lithium extracted from European mines in Portugal and the Ore Mountains. Lithium is a critical component in the production of electric vehicle batteries, and with the global shift towards green energy, demand for lithium is soaring.
The opening of this refinery comes at a crucial time as the EU proposed a Critical Raw Materials Action Plan in 2020 to reduce Europe’s reliance on external suppliers for essential materials like lithium. The Managing Director of AMG Lithium, Stefan Scherer, emphasized the importance of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, stating that they are unbeatable in terms of performance and range.
With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles worldwide, the opening of Europe’s first lithium refinery is a significant step towards securing a stable supply of lithium for the growing EV market. AMG Lithium’s investment in this groundbreaking facility demonstrates a commitment to supporting the transition to sustainable transportation and reducing Europe’s dependence on external sources of lithium.
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