He continues with more details around the German converter site at\u00a0Guben, which is currently under development. \u201cAll engineering studies have been completed, and the project is shovel ready. Moreover, it is fully\u00a0permitted\u00a0for construction and operations, so no further permits will be\u00a0required. The site has been cleared and fenced off, and gas pipelines and rail facilities for transporting raw materials have been built. With an annual production capacity of 24,000 tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, the plant will be able to supply material for around 500,000 electric vehicles.<\/span> \u201cWe have signed a binding offtake agreement with Mercedes-Benz for 40 percent of the nameplate capacity and are in negotiations to commit another 40 percent. Spodumene feedstock supply is contractually secured with C&D Logistics, who will supply up to the full required amount from Australian or Brazilian sources.\u201d Additionally, GEA Group AG, one of the company\u2019s key partners and a global leader in process technology, will supply crystallization and zero-liquid discharge systems for its lithium converter in\u00a0Guben.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Such is the significance of the\u00a0Guben\u00a0converter, that it is recognized as a strategic EU project under the Critical Raw Materials Act \u2013 one of only two hard rock lithium converter projects in Germany. \u201cThis demonstrates that our project is crucial in achieving the EU\u2019s target of reaching 40 percent local refining for required critical raw materials by 2030,\u201d adds Mirco.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFinancing discussions with equity and debt financiers for the\u00a0Guben\u00a0converter are progressing. Securing the\u00a0additional\u00a040 percent of binding offtake will be crucial for that. So far, we are seeing\u00a0strong support\u00a0for our project, for instance from the European Investment Bank, which has provided a 150-million-euro letter of support, and multiple export credit agencies. On top of that we are targeting 100 million euros in subsidies, which will be an important signal in the current geopolitical landscape.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rock Tech is using the design of t<\/span>he Guben converter as its blueprint for implementing further converters, including in Canada, aiming to efficiently scale operations in a high-growth market. \u201cThrough technology and knowledge transfer, we aim to accelerate planning, approval, and implementation timelines. In addition, with our zero-waste approach and low carbon dioxide footprint \u2013 documented by a life cycle analysis – the highest environmental standards can be ensured. The converter in Ontario will have a production capacity of up to 36,000 tons of lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year. The scoping study is completed, positioning us to aim for start of production before 2030.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOnly around 100\u00a0kilometers\u00a0away, we are planning to build our Georgia Lake spodumene mine. The Preliminary Feasibility Study is completed. The concentrator is designed for initially producing 100,000 tons of spodumene concentrate per year and with our advanced permitting status, we expect to be able to produce by 2029. This way, we want to build Ontario\u2019s first regional and integrated lithium supply chain! Both projects profit from excellent infrastructure access and availability of clean electricity. Additionally, we are seeing\u00a0strong support\u00a0from our indigenous communities.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With work well underway to establish a sustainable and efficient, fully integrated source of lithium for local industries, Mirco ruminates on the truly global implications of this project\u2019s success: \u201cBattery-grade lithium is a key component for mobile and stationary energy storage and therefore crucial for the electrification of the heat and mobility sector, for grid stability when feeding in renewable energy \u2013 for the energy transition as a whole.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAll our processes aim at producing high-quality lithium hydroxide in a sustainable way; thanks to our environmentally friendly local production, our lithium hydroxide will have a carbon footprint that is between 30 and 64 percent smaller than the current industry average for comparable products. Furthermore, we strive to use most of our by-products. Ore residues and gypsum-containing residues can be used in the building materials industry as additives in cement production, where they can help to significantly reduce carbon emissions. In the future, up to 95 percent of waste streams could be recycled. In addition to processing primary lithium ores, our refineries can also refine lithium from recycled old batteries into battery-grade products. Last, but not least, we want to ensure complete traceability of our supply chain and meet all requirements of the European battery passport.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/newenergy-today.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/12\/Rock-Tech-Lithium-103-body-image-300x212.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nZero-waste approach<\/h2>\n