Livista Energy Partners, a developing lithium and battery materials producer, has selected Technip Energies to progress its first European lithium refinery.
The company selected Technip to deliver Front-End Engineering Design and a detailed feasibility study (DFS) for the refinery which will be based in Germany.
Livista's refinery will initially produce 40,000t of battery-grade lithium products per year — 30,000t of hydroxide and 10,000t of carbonate — or enough to supply the needs of 850,000 electric vehicles (EVs). The company says there is potential to double production capacity to meet growing EV demand in the future. Initial output is expected to begin in 2026, depending on the DFS.
"This collaboration will set the path towards filling a critical gap in the European EV and lithium-ion battery supply chain, as nearly all lithium is currently refined in Asia," Livista chief operating officer Jean-Marc Ichbia said. "The capacity of our plants to accept recycled battery materials will make us a key part of the circular economy and will support our customers in sourcing lithium directly in Europe."
The material produced in Europe would be compliant with EU Critical Raw Material Act objectives, which mandates that all batteries produced in Europe contain a minimum percentage of lithium battery-grade product produced locally by 2030. Recycled feedstock is expected to reach 50pc of the first plant's capacity by 2030.
"As we continue to grow our footprint in the lithium refining space, we are eager to contribute to the decarbonisation of the European automotive industry," Technip chief operating officer Marco Villa said.
Prices for 99.5pc-grade lithium carbonate were assessed at 305,000-325,000 yuan/t ($42,882.85-45,694.84/t) ex-works China today, up from Yn300,000-320,000/t ex-works on Wednesday. Most suppliers continued to raise offer prices in response to firm spodumene costs. Lithium hydroxide prices were at Yn290,000-315,000/t ex-works China today, up from Yn285,000-310,000/t ex-works on Wednesday.
In Europe, prices were unchanged on Wednesday for 99.5pc lithium carbonate, steady at $30,000-32,000/mt in-warehouse Rotterdam, and 56.5pc lithium hydroxide, stable at $47,000-50,000/mt in-warehouse.
