Investment
Case
Locally sourced lithium is crucial to Europe’s climate neutrality goals. On the German-Czech border, Zinnwald Lithium has access to of one of Europe’s largest ore deposits. To develop this opportunity, our team brings global expertise in the fields of mining, specialty chemicals and finance. We are working with industry-leading partners to design and execute a project that is technically rigorous, economically robust and guided by sustainability principles throughout.
The lithium opportunity
in Europe
Demand for locally sourced lithium is expected to intensify between now and 2050. Lithium is one of the metals covered by the European Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to make the EU more self-reliant in the resources needed for technologies such as renewable energy and battery power.
Battery demand is increasing
Global demand for lithium will almost triple from 165kt in 2023 to 531kt in 2030 & increase more than 8 x to reach 1,326kt in 2040.
Source: IEA 2024
Considerable industrial opportunity
1,350 GWh pa European gigafactory capacity projected for 2030.
Source: Faraday Sept 2024
Lack of sufficient production capacity
Forecasts indicate that the EU is likely to fall short of its 2030 CRMA targets unless it takes more ambitious action.
Source: Benchmark July 2024
Significant climate benefits
European-made batteries could be 60% less carbon-intensive than Chinese ones saving an estimated 133 Mt of CO2 by 2030.
Source: T&E 2024
Processing capacity shortage
By 2030 the shortfall in Europe’s LiOH processing capacity is expected to widen by 218%.
Source: Rystad
EU proposals will simplify processes
The CRMA aims to streamline the permitting process to provide permits to strategic mines within 24 months and to processing plants within a year.
Source: European Commission
What makes this
ore body unique?
Zinnwald Lithium has access to of one of Europe’s largest ore deposits, with an added brownfield advantage. Having the option to repurpose existing infrastructure allows for more cost-efficient production and will be less disruptive to the local community than open-pit mining on previously undeveloped greenfield sites.
One of the largest deposits in Europe
Estimated life of mine 35+ years, with significant potential to expand
Excellent location near end market
Near German auto and chemical industries, within 150km of three planned gigafactories
Extensive pre-existing infrastructure
Complete set of infrastructure on site including access and ventilation tunnels and local rail line
Key features of our approach
Partnering with leaders in their industries
We are working with firms that have globally recognised geology, mining design and chemicals expertise to build a world-leading, highly economic business that will uphold high environmental standards.
”Upcycling” existing infrastructure
Repurposing elements of the pre-existing Altenberg tin mine will help make the mine design more cost effective and less disruptive to the local community.
Building a non-toxic low waste process
Repurposing elements of the pre-existing Altenberg tin mine will help make the mine design more cost effective and less disruptive to the local community.
Maximising commercially saleable products
The project will produce not only lithium hydroxide but other commercially useful products including SOP—an important fertiliser that has few suppliers within Europe.
Find out about
the project
Located near the heart of Europe’s chemical and automotive industries, the Zinnwald Lithium project benefits from Saxony’s history of mining activity and from its extensive existing infrastructure. Sustainability and efficiency considerations are built into every step of our process.
