Elemental Strategic Metals — a company of the Elemental Group — today opened Poland’s most advanced facility for the recovery of strategic industrial and precious metals from Li-Ion electric vehicle batteries. The plant also processes automotive and industrial catalysts. The investment is valued at PLN 600 million. This is a breakthrough step towards a sustainable circular economy in our country. Elemental has already announced the creation of additional plants in Poland and Europe.
1. Objective: recovery of valuable raw materials
Recycling batteries from electric vehicles and electronic devices is a key element of a sustainable future. By 2035, recycled materials could cover 30% of the EU’s demand for lithium, nickel and cobalt. That is why the newly opened Elemental Group installation in Zawiercie is of strategic importance to industry and to the raw material security of Poland and the European Union.
„The Zawiercie facility specializes in the recovery of strategic battery metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese, as well as precious metals from the platinum group: platinum, palladium and rhodium. These metals are essential for modern technology and industry, and their recovery enables efficient use of natural resources and shortening of the supply chain,” says Michał Zygmunt, CEO of Elemental Strategic Metals. „Thanks to our investment, rare strategic elements and precious metals will not leave the European Union and will be used in the production of next-generation batteries for electric vehicles. In this way, our activities support the strategic security of this part of Europe.”
2. A significant milestone in the Group’s development
The facility was built as part of the project „Development and first industrial implementation of innovative technologies for recycling lithium-ion batteries and catalysts with recovery of metals of strategic importance,” presented and approved by the European Commission under the IPCEI Batteries programme, and subsequently supported by the National Centre for Research and Development.
The Polish Development Fund (PFR) partially financed the construction and commissioning of the Zawiercie plant. Together with the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, PFR invested USD 290 million in the Elemental Group’s operations. The remaining funds come from own resources and commercial financial institutions.
„The Elemental Group, in line with its business strategy, grows both organically and through acquisitions. We pursue horizontal and vertical integration of the market for the recovery and recycling of metals from electric vehicles, automotive and industrial catalysts, and PCBs from electronic equipment,” says Paweł Jarski, founder and CEO of the Elemental Group. „In Poland the Elemental Group employs more than 400 people, and globally — more than 1,000. Aside from Poland, our main markets are the USA and Germany. In total, we operate on more than 30 markets across three continents.”
Under agreements signed at the beginning of this year with Huawei and Mitsubishi Corporation, the Elemental Group gained expertise in effective collection of used electrical and electronic equipment and Li-Ion batteries, as well as the resources needed to accelerate the operation of the Zawiercie plant.
Next year, Elemental Strategic Metals will begin construction of a similar facility in Wernigerode, Germany, as part of a joint venture with the American company Ascend Elements. This plant will have processing capacity of up to 58,000 electric vehicle batteries per year.
3. Processing capacity of the new facility
The new plant will process spent Li-Ion batteries from electric vehicles as well as automotive and industrial catalysts. This process will yield valuable raw materials that will then be used to produce battery material precursors (pCAM), new catalysts and membranes for electrolysers and fuel cells. The recovered metals will primarily be used in the e-mobility and renewable energy sectors. By-products include plastics, copper and aluminium.
„The materials to be processed — spent batteries and production waste — will mainly come from the European market, and the recovered metals will be delivered to companies that will use them in further production processes, contributing to sustainable development and reduced CO₂ emissions. In this way, the plant helps to reduce the import of primary raw materials, the export of valuable materials outside the EU, and supports the domestic recycling market,” explains Maciej Dudzic, Member of the Management Board of Elemental Strategic Metals.
„Our plant is not just a major investment providing an opportunity to increase Poland’s raw material security while reducing environmental impact. It is also a boost for regional development and new jobs for the residents of Zawiercie and the surrounding area, who are known for their strong work ethic,” emphasizes Michał Zygmunt, CEO of Elemental Strategic Metals.
The Elemental factory in Zawiercie directly employs 120 workers from Zawiercie and the surrounding area, and indirectly generates around 100 jobs in partner companies. By the end of the year, another 30 people will find employment there.
Additionally, the facility has launched its own 12 MW photovoltaic farm and Poland’s largest energy storage system with a capacity of 10 MWh and 5 MW power.