Lithium recycler Primobius has received a purchase order from Mercedes-Benz for the supply of a hydrometallurgical refining hub.
Primobius is a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Australian battery materials producer Neometals and German global plant manufacturer SMS Group that focuses on developing sustainable processes for recovering and recycling lithium-ion (LiB) batteries. It is currently commercialising a patented LiB recycling process through a plant supply and technology licensing business model.
The hub for Mercedes is expected to be installed at its Kuppenheim operation in Germany, which is under construction.
The order is valued at about €18.8 million ($30.7 million) and was awarded to Primobius under the cooperation arrangement it has shared with Mercedes since May 2022, where Primobius is responsible for the engineering, equipment supply and installation of a 2500-tonnes-per-annum fully integrated, closed loop Mercedes LiB recycling pilot plant.
The hub order builds off the purchase order for the supply of a 10-tonne per day Spoke with Mercedes that was announced in August 2023.
The plant is Mercedes’ first entrance into the lithium-ion battery recycling sector and intends to cut resource consumption and establish closed-loop recycling of battery raw materials. It also coincides with Mercedes’ goal in becoming an “electric only” company.
“We are proud to partner with Mercedes in its journey to lead the closed-loop recycling of lithium batteries,” Neometals managing director Chris Reed said.
“The relationship exemplifies some of the unique aspects to Primobius’ business model. One of these is the ability to supply plant and offer technology licences so original equipment manufacturers can retain their battery materials from scrap and end-of-life batteries.”
The facility aims to recover battery materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt for the production of 50,000 battery modules to be installed in new Mercedes vehicles.
“Primobius looks forward to working with Mercedes to scaleup the technology and provide an industrial scale recycling solution to meet their future needs,” Reed said.
The hub order symbolises the completion of Primobius’ contractual arrangements relating to the pilot plant’s construction.
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