Fortum and Dutch firm sign recycled-content metals pact

AMG Critical Materials NV says its Germany-based wholly owned subsidiary AMG Lithium GmbH has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Fortum Battery Recycling Oy.

According to Finland-based Fortum, its new commercial scale hydrometallurgical plant in Harjavalta, Finland, is able to efficiently recover valuable metals from old electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries while also recycling various waste fractions derived throughout the battery supply chain.

According to the signed MOU, AMG says the lithium product recovered by Fortum Battery Recycling will be delivered to AMG Lithium for further processing.

“We are very excited to be cooperating with AMG Lithium on this important project,” says Tero Holländer, head of the battery business line at Fortum Battery Recycling. “We were looking for a partner who shared our vision for the future and was as committed to sustainability and lowering their carbon footprint as we are – and we found that in AMG Lithium.

“The agreement with AMG is also a great testament to the significance of our newly opened Harjavalta plant for the European battery recycling industry, highlighting the increased need for recycled battery materials and demand for new efficient and sustainable solutions. Through this cooperation, Fortum is the first company that can offer a true European closed loop solution for the automotive and battery industry continues.”

Together, AMG Lithium and Fortum Battery Recycling say they aim to improve the entire battery recycling chain, contribute to reducing the companies’ CO₂ footprint, and reduce the European battery value chain’s dependency on raw material imports.

“This MOU represents another important step towards an independent and sustainable lithium supply chain for Europe,” says Dr. Stefan Scherer, CEO of AMG Lithium GmbH. “We are looking forward to working together with Fortum in order to de-carbonize and improve the battery recycling lithium supply chain in Europe.”