Li-Cycle — a company based in the Italian region of Portovsme intends to produce the materials for lithium-ion battery manufacturing via recycling. Li-Cycle and Glencore will first conduct a definitive feasibility study (DFS) within 60 days of this announcement.
Battery recycling is nothing new (especially for lead-acid batteries), and it has been commonplace for years. However, Li-Cycle is focusing on lithium-ion batteries, which is a large and continuously growing industry due to the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries in portable electronics and electric vehicles.
“The planned Portovesme Hub is a landmark project for Europe’s battery recycling industry and is expected to be the largest source of recycled battery-grade lithium on the Continent. We are excited to expand our global strategic partnership with Glencore and build on our learnings from the Rochester Hub in support of the rapid growth of the lithium-ion battery ecosystem in an environmentally friendly manner,” said Tim Johnston, co-founder and Executive Chair, Li-Cycle.
This project will be a 50/50 joint venture between Li-Cycle And Glencore. Glencore will provide funding and a portion of their existing metallurgy facility in the same region of Portovsme and the battery recycling facility is expected to have a recycling capacity of 36 GWh of batteries (equivalent to 50,0000 to 70,000 tonnes of black mass).
