Baar ZG/Toronto/Portovesme – Commodities specialist Glencore is planning a feasibility study for a Glencore plant in Sardinia together with Canadian company Li-Cylce. There, Li-Cylce technology will be used to recover nickel, cobalt and lithium from disposed batteries.
Baar-based Glencore International AG and Toronto-based Li-Cycle have agreed to conduct a feasibility study for recycling metals from old batteries at an existing Glencore metallurgical plant in Portovesme, Sardinia, according to a media release.
Accordingly, materials critical to battery production, such as nickel, cobalt and lithium, will be recovered from recycled battery contents at the Portovesme Hub. In doing so, the partners hold out the prospect of creating Europe’s first fully closed-loop solution and “the largest source of recycled battery-grade lithium and recycled nickel and cobalt in Europe.” The expected processing capacity is between 50,000 and 70,000 tons of mass annually.
The feasibility study is expected to begin in mid-2023 and be completed by mid-2024. Subject to a final investment decision, development of the Portovesme Hub is to begin. Commissioning is scheduled for early 2027.
During the study, the partners plan to use Li-Cycle’s hydrometallurgical technology. Li-Cycle is in the business of recovering resources for lithium-ion batteries, making it a leader in North America, according to the company. Now Li-Cycle is set to become the largest manufacturer of sustainable battery products in Europe.
Glencore International AG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore plc, producer, recycler and marketer of nickel and cobalt for the production of batteries for electric vehicles. ko
