AMG Lithium has opened Europe’s first lithium refinery in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, a significant step in boosting the continent’s electric vehicle (EV) industry. The refinery, built in just over two years at a cost of 140 million euros, will convert Brazilian lithium into battery-compatible lithium hydroxide. The plant is expected to produce 20,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, enough to power 500,000 electric vehicles.
Lithium, a key component in EV battery production, is in high demand due to the global transition to green energy. To address this growing need, the European Union (EU) introduced the Critical Raw Materials Action Plan in 2020, aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on external sources for these vital materials.
Currently, most electric and hybrid vehicles rely on lithium-ion batteries, which are favored for their performance and range. Stefan Scherer, Managing Director of AMG Lithium, highlighted the importance of lithium-ion technology, stating, “If you want a certain performance and range when driving, then the lithium-ion battery is simply unbeatable.”
In the future, lithium sourced from European mines—such as those in Portugal and the Ore Mountains—will also be processed at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen plant.
