Rio Tinto will collaborate with European battery technology and manufacturing firm InoBat to accelerate the establishment of a “cradle to cradle” battery manufacturing and recycling value chain at its Jadar project in Serbia.
Located near the city of Loznica, Serbia, the Jadar project is one of the largest greenfield lithium projects in development, with the potential to produce approximately 55 thousand tonnes of battery grade lithium carbonate.
InoBat, which is developing a battery research and development facility and pilot plant in Slovakia, intends to scale up its future production through gigafactories to be built in the EMEA region, with plans to serve the European market with innovative energy solutions, including production and recycling of electric vehicle batteries.
Managing director of Rio Tinto’s borates and lithium businesses, Marnie Finlayson, said the partnership will cover the full commodity life-cycle from mining through to recycling of lithium.
“This collaboration with InoBat will enable an important exchange of knowledge and information on lithium processing, recycling and technologies for the next generation of batteries,” Ms Finlayson said.
“It is a visionary initiative and one that is aligned with Rio Tinto’s commitment to partnerships that provide solutions to combat climate change.”
Marian Bocek, CEO of InoBat Auto said the collaboration will also encourage the development of a complete European lithium and electric vehicle battery value chain that will benefit Serbia and other European economies that wish to collaborate.
“The signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Rio Tinto represents an important step in achieving InoBat’s goal to utilise a European-based value chain and support European bid for technological independence,” Mr Bocek said.
Our unique “cradle to cradle” approach covers the whole life-cycle of batteries from mining to recycling, in order to underpin circular economy efforts and the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”
