German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Vulcan's Lithium Extraction Optimisation Plant (LEOP) in Landau, Germany, along with the neighbouring geothermal power plant. During his visit, he emphasised his party's commitment to the green energy transition and a secure, sustainable supply of raw materials for Germany.
Imagery credit: Uli Deck Artis_Photographie
Key highlights
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz toured Vulcan's upstream operations, including the geothermal power plant and Adsorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (A-DLE) optimisation plant (LEOP) in Landau, Germany, accompanied by Rhineland-Palatinate's Prime Minister, Alexander Schweitzer
- Vulcan's integrated geothermal and lithium value chain uses naturally heated brine to extract lithium chloride (LiCl) while producing geothermal renewable energy for local communities and industry
- Vulcan's LEOP, operational since April 2024, produces Europe's first fully sustainable lithium chloride. The high-purity LiCl is processed into battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) at Vulcan's downstream Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Frankfurt, Germany
- Scholz emphasised the need for a secure domestic lithium value chain in Germany and Europe and reaffirmed his government's commitment to support the expansion of geothermal energy, targeting 100 new geothermal projects by 2030
- Vulcan's Phase One "Lionheart" project aims to produce approximately 24,000 tonnes per year of LHM enough to supply around 500,000 electric vehicles annually with zero fossil fuels in the production process. This establishes one of the world's most sustainable, cost-efficient, and scalable lithium supply chains, helping secure Germany's raw material independence.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, commented: "The idea that we have to import lithium from many countries far away from us keeps cropping up, and we are dependent on those who sell it to us. In fact, in Europe, but especially in Germany, we have the foundations to be able to produce this raw material supply ourselves. In addition, we have a great deal of untapped potential for a sustainable heat supply, such as deep geothermal energy, which could supply both households and industry with renewable energy. This technology is trendsetting. As the German government, we actively support this innovative approach."
Managing Director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: "Vulcan's mission is to deliver domestic and sustainable lithium to support Europe's green energy and mobility transition. The Chancellor's visit reaffirms the importance of our Lionheart Project as the most advanced integrated lithium and renewable energy project in Europe and gives us additional confidence that our work aligns with key policy priorities."
Media
Annabel Roedhammer | Vice President Communications | aroedhammer@v-er.eu | +49 1511 410 1585
Judith Buchan | Communications Lead - APAC | jbuchan@v-er.eu | +61 411 597 326
