Canadian lithium company Rock Tech Lithium has received approximately €250,000 in funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space. The ELiSePro project aims to increase the yield of lithium in the converter process at the Guben site.
As part of the project, Rock Tech Lithium will collaborate with RWTH Aachen University to compare various ion separation methods, such as nanofiltration, capacitive deionization, and lithium-ion sieves, in a systematic way. The processes will be evaluated from economic and technological perspectives for direct industrial application. The results are intended for publication and will be protected by patent law.
Rock Tech’s planned lithium hydroxide refinery in Guben is expected to produce approximately 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually. This quantity would be sufficient to supply over 500,000 electric vehicles each year. Production is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Third Round of Public Funding in a Few Months
This new project follows funding of €800,000 from EIT RawMaterials and CAD 388,000 from the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund of Ontario. Both programs support projects in lithium processing and ore sorting. The new grant marks the third public grant awarded to Rock Tech in a few months. Rock Tech sees itself as playing a strategic role in ensuring the security of supply of critical raw materials, particularly in the context of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
