Elemental Group opened in Zawiercie the largest plant in Poland for the recovery of strategic industrial and precious metals
Elemental Strategic Metals — a company belonging to the Elemental Group —opened today in Zawiercie the most modern plant in Poland to recover strategic industrial and precious metals from Li-Ion batteries of electric vehicles. The plant also processes automotive and industrial catalysts. The investment value is PLN 600 million. This is a breakthrough step towards a sustainable circular economy in our country. Elemental has already announced the creation of more plants in Poland and Europe.
Purpose of activity: recovery of valuable raw materials
Recycling batteries from electric vehicles and electronic devices is an important element of a sustainable future. By 2035, recycled material can cover 30 percent of the EU’s demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt. For this reason, the newly opened Elemental Group installation in Zawiercie is strategically important for the industry and for Poland’s and the European Union’s raw material security.
“The plant in Zawiercie specializes in the recovery of strategic battery metals, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese, as well as precious metals from the platinum group: platinum, palladium, rhodium. These metals are crucial for modern technologies and industry, and their recovery allows for the efficient use of natural resources and shortening the supply chain,” says Michał Zygmunt, CEO of Elemental Strategic Metals. “Thanks to our investment, rare strategic elements, and precious metals will not leave the territory of the European Union and will be used to create further generations of electric vehicle batteries. Thus, we can assume that in this case, our business activities support the strategic security of this part of Europe.”
Significant step in the Group’s development
The plant was established as part of the project „Development and first industrial implementation of innovative technologies for recycling lithium-ion batteries and catalysts with the recovery of metals of strategic importance” presented and accepted by the European Commission under the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on Batteries program, and then supported under competition by the National Centre for Research and Development.
The Polish Development Fund (PFR) also partially financed the construction and commissioning of the plant in Zawiercie. Together with the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, PFR invested USD 290 million in the Elemental Group’s activities. The remaining funds come from own resources and commercial financial institutions.
“The Elemental Group, in line with its business strategy, develops organically and through acquisitions. We conduct horizontal and vertical integration of the market for the recovery and recycling of metals from electric vehicles, automotive and industrial catalysts, PCBs from electronic devices,” says Paweł Jarski, founder and president of the Elemental Group. “In Poland, the Elemental Group employs over 400 people, globally – over 1,000. Apart from Poland, our main markets are the USA and Germany. In total, we operate in over 30 markets on three continents.”
Under agreements signed earlier this year with Huawei and Mitsubishi Corporation, the Elemental Group acquired knowledge on the efficient collection of used electrical and electronic equipment and Li-Ion batteries, as well as the resources necessary to accelerate the operation of the Zawiercie plant.
Next year, Elemental Strategic Metals will start the construction of a similar plant in Wernigerode, Germany, as part of a joint venture with the American company Ascend Elements. The processing capacity of this plant will be up to 58,000 batteries from electric cars per year.
Processing capabilities of the new plant
The new plant will process used Li-Ion batteries from EV cars and automotive and industrial catalysts. This process will allow obtaining valuable raw materials, which will then be used to produce battery material precursors (pCAM), new catalysts, and membranes for electrolyzers and fuel cells. The recovered metals will be used primarily in the electromobility industry and renewable energy. By-products also include plastics, copper, and aluminum.
“The processed materials, such as used batteries and post-production scrap, will mainly come from the European market, and the recovered metals will be delivered to companies that will use them in further production processes, contributing to sustainable development and reduction of CO2 emissions. In this way, the plant contributes to reducing the import of primary raw materials, the export of valuable materials outside the EU, and supports the domestic recycling market,” explains Maciej Dudzic, member of the management board of Elemental Strategic Metals.
“Our plant is not only a great investment that gives a chance to increase raw material security for Poland with a simultaneous reduced impact on the natural environment. It is also an impulse for the development of this region and new jobs for the inhabitants of Zawiercie and the region, who are well-known for their work ethos,” emphasizes Michał Zygmunt, CEO of Elemental Strategic Metals.
The Elemental factory in Zawiercie directly employs 120 employees from Zawiercie and the surrounding area, and indirectly generates about 100 jobs in cooperating companies. By the end of the year, about 30 more people will find employment there.
In addition, the plant has launched its own 12 MW photovoltaic farm and the largest energy storage facility in Poland, with a capacity of 10 MWh and a power of 5 MW.
