As lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries continue to electrify our world, over 11 million tonnes of spent Li-ion batteries will be discarded through to 2030. This means a very significant opportunity exists for Li-ion battery recycling. Neometals has co-developed a Li-ion battery recycling technology to economically recover high-value cobalt (99.2% recovery). Recently, the company has constructed a recycling hydrometallurgical pilot plant in Ontario, Canada where wet commissioning has commenced. The plant will complete continuous test work at a rate of 100kg/day of batteries, testing the recovery of high-purity cobalt, lithium, nickel and other base metals from lithium batteries typically used in the electric vehicles (Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt or NMC).
