In Kazakhstan, while the industrial-scale extraction of lithium is not yet fully developed, the country has started obtaining this rare metal by recycling batteries. The first facility dedicated to extracting valuable components from lithium-ion batteries has been launched at the Industrial Place business park. This new production line has a capacity of processing at least 20 tons of raw material per month, according to a report from the Almaty Social Entrepreneurship Corporation (SPK). The facility was built by the company Technic Destroy.
The facility employs a recycling technology designed to recover lithium-containing powder, aluminum, copper, and other metals from spent batteries. The SPK estimates that 1 ton of used batteries can yield up to 250 kg of lithium, reducing the need for raw material extraction. Battery recycling is said to produce 70-80% fewer emissions compared to primary lithium mining operations.
At present, local companies in Kazakhstan are not directly engaged in lithium extraction. The country is actively inviting foreign investors into the rare metals and rare earth industries. Earlier this year, three German companies formed a consortium to develop lithium production in Kazakhstan.
