Energy and chemicals executive appointed Vulcan deputy CEO

26th September 2022 By: Creamer Media Reporter

ASX-listed Vulcan Energy has appointed Cris Moreno, an energy and chemicals industry executive based in Europe, as its deputy CEO with effect from November 1.

Moreno has more than 20 years’ experience in delivering major capital projects, including in the lithium chemicals, cathode and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors.

In the LNG sector, he held leadership positions at Santos, Woodside and Shell.

Moreno has also been working in the lithium chemicals and battery cathode sector in Europe, as senior director programmes for Northvolt – Cathode Active Material (CAM) business unit and VP for engineering and development for Aurora Lithium – Northvolt’s lithium hydroxide refinery joint venture with Galp.

“As Vulcan’s Zero Carbon lithium project grows and advances, our skills and expertise requirements in our leadership team are evolving. Cris has a unique CV, having executed large LNG project developments, before turning his attention to lithium hydroxide and battery cathode plants in Europe.

“The shared project discipline DNA within both these sectors and experience in delivering major projects in Europe similar to our integrated, geothermal renewable energy and lithium hydroxide project, is significant,” said Vulcan Energy MD and CEO Francis Wedin.

Vulcan is aiming to become the world’s first lithium producer with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Its Zero Carbon Lithium project intends to produce a battery-quality lithium hydroxide chemical product from its combined geothermal energy and lithium resource, which is Europe’s biggest lithium resource, in Germany.

The project aims to produce both renewable geothermal energy, and lithium hydroxide, from the same deep brine source.