Rock Tech Partners with Schwenk to Turn Lithium By-products into Cement Additives, Cutting Costs and Increasing Profitability
Rock Tech Lithium has signed an MoU with Schwenk Zement, a German cement manufacturer, to utilize lithium production by-products from Rock Tech's Guben Converter in cement manufacturing. The partnership will generate additional revenue and save up to EUR 8 million annually in operational costs for Rock Tech, while reducing CO₂ emissions in cement production.
The agreement focuses on developing industrial applications for leach residues from Lithium-Hydroxide production. Initial studies by ITEL showed these residues can serve as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM). Schwenk plans to invest in facilities to process up to 200,000 tonnes of by-products annually by 2029. The certification process is expected to take up to 1.5 years, including REACH compliance and German Institute for Construction Technology approvals.
Rock Tech Lithium ha firmato un Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) con Schwenk Zement, un produttore di cemento tedesco, per utilizzare i sottoprodotti della produzione di litio provenienti dal Guben Converter di Rock Tech nella produzione di cemento. Questa partnership genererà entrate aggiuntive e permetterà un risparmio di fino a 8 milioni di euro all'anno nei costi operativi per Rock Tech, riducendo al contempo le emissioni di CO₂ nella produzione di cemento.
L'accordo si concentra sulla sviluppo di applicazioni industriali per i residui di lisciviazione dalla produzione di idrossido di litio. Studi preliminari condotti da ITEL hanno mostrato che questi residui possono servire come Materiali Cementizi Supplementari (SCM). Schwenk prevede di investire in impianti per elaborare fino a 200.000 tonnellate di sottoprodotti all'anno entro il 2029. Il processo di certificazione dovrebbe richiedere fino a 1,5 anni, comprese la conformità REACH e le approvazioni dell'Istituto Tedesco per la Tecnologia delle Costruzioni.
Rock Tech Lithium ha firmado un Memorando de Entendimiento (MoU) con Schwenk Zement, un fabricante de cemento alemán, para utilizar los subproductos de producción de litio provenientes del Guben Converter de Rock Tech en la fabricación de cemento. Esta asociación generará ingresos adicionales y ahorrará hasta 8 millones de euros anuales en costos operativos para Rock Tech, al mismo tiempo que reducirá las emisiones de CO₂ en la producción de cemento.
El acuerdo se centra en desarrollar aplicaciones industriales para los residuos de lixiviación de la producción de hidróxido de litio. Estudios iniciales realizados por ITEL mostraron que estos residuos pueden servir como Materiales Cementicios Suplementarios (SCM). Schwenk planea invertir en instalaciones para procesar hasta 200,000 toneladas de subproductos anualmente para 2029. Se espera que el proceso de certificación tome hasta 1.5 años, incluyendo el cumplimiento de REACH y las aprobaciones del Instituto Alemán de Tecnología de la Construcción.
록 테크 리튬은 독일의 시멘트 제조업체 슈벤크 짐멘트와 협약서를 체결하여 록 테크의 구벤 컨버터에서 생산된 리튬 생산의 부산물을 시멘트 제조에 활용하기로 했습니다. 이 파트너십은 추가 수익을 창출하고 록 테크의 운영 비용을 연간 최대 800만 유로 절감할 수 있으며, 시멘트 생산에서 CO₂ 배출을 줄이는 데 기여할 것입니다.
이번 협정은 리튬 하이드록사이드 생산에서 발생하는 침출 잔여물의 산업적 응용 개발에 중점을 두고 있습니다. ITEL의 초기 연구에 따르면 이러한 잔여물은 보조 시멘트 재료(SCM)로 활용될 수 있습니다. 슈벤크는 2029년까지 연간 최대 20만 톤의 부산물을 가공할 시설에 투자할 계획입니다. 인증 과정은 REACH 준수 및 독일 건축 기술 연구소 승인 등을 포함하여 최대 1.5년이 소요될 것으로 예상됩니다.
Rock Tech Lithium a signé un protocole d'accord (MoU) avec Schwenk Zement, un fabricant de ciment allemand, pour utiliser les sous-produits de la production de lithium provenant du Guben Converter de Rock Tech dans la fabrication de ciment. Ce partenariat générera des revenus supplémentaires et permettra d’économiser jusqu'à 8 millions d'euros par an en coûts d'exploitation pour Rock Tech, tout en réduisant les émissions de CO₂ dans la production de ciment.
L'accord se concentre sur le développement d'applications industrielles pour les résidus de lixiviation issus de la production d'hydroxyde de lithium. Des études préliminaires menées par ITEL ont montré que ces résidus peuvent servir de Matériaux Complémentaires pour le Ciment (SCM). Schwenk prévoit d'investir dans des installations pour traiter jusqu'à 200 000 tonnes de sous-produits chaque année d'ici 2029. Le processus de certification devrait prendre jusqu'à 1,5 ans, y compris la conformité REACH et les approbations de l'Institut Allemand de Technologie de la Construction.
Rock Tech Lithium hat ein Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) mit Schwenk Zement, einem deutschen Zementhersteller, unterzeichnet, um Nebenprodukte der Lithiumproduktion aus dem Guben Converter von Rock Tech in der Zementherstellung zu nutzen. Diese Partnerschaft wird zusätzliche Einnahmen generieren und jährlich bis zu 8 Millionen Euro an Betriebskosten für Rock Tech einsparen, während sie die CO₂-Emissionen in der Zementproduktion reduziert.
Die Vereinbarung konzentriert sich auf die Entwicklung industrieller Anwendungen für die Laugungsreste aus der Produktion von Lithiumhydroxid. Erste Studien von ITEL haben gezeigt, dass diese Rückstände als Zusatzstoffe für Zement (SCM) verwendet werden können. Schwenk plant, bis 2029 in Anlagen zu investieren, die jährlich bis zu 200.000 Tonnen von Nebenprodukten verarbeiten können. Der Zertifizierungsprozess wird voraussichtlich bis zu 1,5 Jahre dauern und umfasst die REACH-Konformität sowie die Genehmigungen des Deutschen Instituts für Normung.
- Creation of new revenue stream through by-product sales to Schwenk
- Reduction of annual operational expenditures by approximately 7%
- Secured offtake agreement for up to 200,000 tonnes of by-products annually by 2029
- Exclusive partnership agreement with Schwenk
- 1.5-year certification process required before full implementation
- Initial ramp-up phase requires flexibility in disposal methods
- Rock Tech will sell by-products from its Guben Lithium production to Schwenk for use in cement manufacturing. This will generate additional annual profits, save up to
EUR 8 million annually in operational costs, and increase the project's Net Present Value (NPV). - These by-products will replace traditional cement additives, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions in cement production and enhancing supply chain resilience.
- Schwenk plans to invest in its facilities to process up to 200,000 tonnes of by-products annually by 2029, establishing a long-term partnership with Rock Tech.
"This partnership is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and formation of a circular economy." said Kerstin Wedemann, Chief Operations and Legal Office at Rock Tech. "By transforming waste into value, we enhance our profitability and support the cement industry's decarbonization efforts."
"Ensuring the future supply of sufficient quantities of high-quality cement grinding materials is of great strategic importance for Schwenk. The LSC (Leached Spodumene Concentrate) produced during the operation of the planned Converter in Guben represents an interesting and regionally available source of secondary raw materials." says Johann Trenkwalder, Member of the Management Board SCHWENK Germany
Environmental and Economic Benefits
The primary objective of the partnership is to develop industrial applications for residues generated from Rock Tech's Lithium-Hydroxide production, specifically leach residues. During initial studies conducted by the Institute of Technologies and Economics of Lithium (ITEL), the leach residues demonstrated potential as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) for use in cement manufacturing, offering the following benefits:
- New Revenue Stream and Improved Economics: Rock Tech will sell its by-products to Schwenk, thereby creating an additional income stream. The parties have agreed on key commercial terms, including offtake pricing for the product.
- Lower Carbon Emissions: Using the leach residues as SCMs in cement production significantly reduces CO₂ emissions for Schwenk and reduces dependency on other SCMs from coal-based-energy production, which will be less widely available in the future.
- Cost Savings: Avoiding leach residue transportation and disposal lowers Rock Tech's annual operational expenditures by c.
7% and reduces the Guben Converter environmental impact.
Upon the successful ramp-up of Rock Techs' Guben Converter, Schwenk plans to invest into state-of-the-art facilities for drying, grinding, and storing leach residues from Lithium production. By 2029, Schwenk aims to use up to 200,000 tonnes of by-products annually, helping Rock Tech achieve its zero-waste goals.
A Sustainable Partnership
The agreement outlines that Schwenk eventually intends to offtake leach residues from Rock Tech's Guben Converter. During the initial ramp-up phase, flexibility is prioritized, including the option of temporarily utilizing residues in the high-temperature cement processes, if required. To facilitate the widespread adoption of this innovation, both parties will jointly pursue critical certifications, including REACH compliance and approvals from the German Institute for Construction Technology (DIBt). The certification process is expected to take up to 1.5 years. As part of the agreement, both parties agree to exclusive cooperation for the duration of the agreement.
ABOUT ROCK TECH
Rock Tech's vision is to supply the electric vehicle and battery industry with sustainable, locally produced Lithium, targeting a
ABOUT SCHWENK ZEMENT
Schwenk Zement is one of
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CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to expectations concerning the Guben Converter, including the design and features of the Guben Converter, as well as the expected costs, capital expenditures, timing and outcomes thereof; statements regarding the Company's future plans, estimates, and schedules relating to the Guben Converter, including the anticipated timing of future activities taken in support of the development thereof; Rock Tech's potential financing arrangements; the expected economic performance of the Guben Converter and anticipated production of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide and related processing methods employed; the estimated capital and operating costs of the Guben Converter; the anticipated timing and outcomes of a final investment decision, construction activities and commissioning of the Guben Converter; statements regarding the Company's sustainability and ESG related goals and strategy, including the benefits and achievement thereof and future actions taken by the Company in relation thereto; expected regulatory processes and final outcomes; expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry, including the demand for and pricing of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide and the benefits therefrom, and the development of political and regulatory frameworks especially in
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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
FAQ
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