BASF, Stena Recycling Partner for European BEV Metal Supply
Global battery materials producer BASF and battery recycler Stena Recycling have joined hands in a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering the supply of essential metals for the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market in Europe. This collaboration aims to establish a sustainable closed-loop supply chain, ensuring the efficient recycling and reuse of crucial metals vital for the production of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
The core of this collaboration is a black mass purchase agreement, a key element in a broader initiative focused on developing a comprehensive battery recycling ecosystem tailored for Europe's rapidly growing BEV market.
Black mass, derived through the mechanical treatment of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and scrap from battery production, contains critical metals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. The collaborative efforts between BASF and Stena Recycling are dedicated to refining the black mass production processes to achieve enhanced recovery rates for these essential metals.
The ultimate goal is to reprocess them for reuse in the manufacturing of new BEVs through advanced chemical recovery methods.
The operational journey begins at Stena Recycling's Halmstad facility in Sweden, where the initial steps involving the handling and mechanical dismantling of battery packs are executed. Following this stage, the black mass undergoes further refinement at BASF's prototype metal refinery located in Schwarzheide, Germany.
This pioneering process is anticipated to pave the way for a scalable model, aiming to establish BASF's planned commercial-scale battery recycling metal refinery, with the specific European location yet to be determined.
Daniel Schönfelder, President of BASF's catalysts division, expressed the significance of this collaboration: "Through our partnership with Stena Recycling, BASF is reinforcing its capability to create an expanded battery collection network in collaboration with a strong Scandinavian partner.
This strategic alliance enables us to broaden our suite of tailored and sustainable solutions for battery producers and EV manufacturers across Europe, marking a significant leap towards realizing a circular economy within the European electric vehicle battery market."
This collaboration signifies a substantial step towards fostering a sustainable supply chain for crucial metals, facilitating a more environmentally conscious and self-sufficient approach within Europe's rapidly evolving EV industry.
