Rock Tech Lithium announces handover of operation permit approvals for German lithium refinery
by CM Staff
Additionally, Rock Tech announces that it has appointed Derek Sobel to the position of Chief Financial Officer as of June 01, 2024.
Brandenburg Officials and members of the Rock Tech team during the permit handover. Credits: Volker Tanner, Staatskanzlei (CNW Group/Rock Tech Lithium Inc.)
TORONTO — Rock Tech Lithium Inc. announces the official handover of all construction and operation permit approvals for its German Lithium refinery. The state of Brandenburg’s Minister for Climate Action and Environment Axel Vogel and Minister for Economic Affairs Joerg Steinbach handed over the notice of approval for the Lithium-Hydroxide Converter to Rock Tech’s CEO Dirk Harbecke. The handover took place during a meeting in the State Chancellery in Potsdam. Guben’s Mayor Fred Mahro and representatives from Rock Tech were also in attendance. All parties welcomed the completion of the approval process as a progressive step in the realisation of regional and resilient battery supply-chains.
Rock Tech plans to build Europe’s first Lithium converter with a capacity of 24,000 tonnes of Lithium-Hydroxide per year. Lithium-Hydroxide is required as a raw material for battery production for electric cars and energy storage systems.
Rock Tech’s CEO Harbecke states: “I’d like to thank the State of Brandenburg and in particular the State Office for the Environment which was responsible for the permit. The construction and operating licence for our lithium refinery is a strong signal for Rock Tech and Europe. The support of the state, the city of Guben, and other stakeholders involved is exceptionally encouraging. The permits not only allow us to now move into the last stage of financing for the project, but they are also proof that our concept works and the Guben converter will serve as the blueprint for our other refinery projects worldwide. We expect to finalise subsidy negotiations and equity term sheets with strategic partners soon. The credit approval process with our banking partners will follow shortly after and we aim to take the final investment decision (FID) in Q3 this year.”
Minister Steinbach adds: “I am delighted that the approvals have now been issued and that Rock Tech’s construction project is one step closer to realisation. The future production of Lithium-Hydroxide in Guben represents a further building block in the creation of an EV value-chain that is currently being established in Brandenburg. The state government is supporting Rock Tech Lithium as much as possible and has initiated all necessary steps.”
Additionally, the Company announces that it has appointed Derek Sobel to the position of Chief Financial Officer as of June 01, 2024. Mr. Sobel is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with extensive financial reporting experience in the Canadian public markets. He held the position of Head of Accounting, Audit, and Tax for Rock Tech since 2021. He follows Ms. Sonja Rossteuscher, who has held the position as CFO since November 2022.
