Name of the Project
Zero Carbon Lithium project.

Location
Frankfurt, Germany.

Project Owner/s
Vulcan Energy Resources.

Project Description
Vulcan aims to be the world’s first integrated lithium chemicals and renewable-energy producer with net-zero, greenhouse-gas emissions.

Phase 1 comprises the Lionheart zone and the neighbouring Taro zones. The definitive feasibility study (DFS) envisages an operation producing 24 000 t/y lithium hydroxide monohydrate, targeting more than 300 GWh/y of renewable power, and more than 250 GWh/y of renewable heat production.

A Phase 2 DFS is to follow, targeting the production of an additional, modular 24 000 t/y, consistent with the project’s January 2021 prefeasibility study and updated for new engineering data from the Phase 1 DFS.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The DFS estimates a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of €3.9-billion and an internal rate of return of 34%, with a payback of 3.5 years.

Capital Expenditure
Capital expenditure is estimated at €1.5-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Production is expected to start at the end of 2025.

Latest Developments
The Australian government’s export credit agency has provided Vulcan Energy with a letter of support for up to A$200-million to be used towards the financing of its geothermal brine project in the Upper Rhine Valley of Germany.

Vulcan MD and CEO Cris Moreno has said that Export Finance Australia’s (EFA's) letter of support is encouraging and strengthens Vulcan’s position as it enters project-level debt and equity financing for Phase 1 of the project this month.

The financing process is expected to coincide with public funding applications in Germany.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Vulcan Energy Resources, tel +61 8 6189 8767 or email info@v-er.eu.