Green Li-ion system gets visit from Oklahoma governor

Green Li-ion, a Singapore-based lithium-ion battery recycling technology vendor, hosted a grand opening ceremony for its plant in Atoka, Oklahoma, that began operating this April and is the company's first commercial-scale installation.

“As North America’s first commercial scale plant producing pCAM [precursor cathode active material] directly from black mass from recycled lithium-ion batteries, this event marks a significant milestone for the company and the future of electrification in the United States,” Green Li-ion says.

Among the attendees of the late-June grand opening ceremony was Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.

“Oklahoma is at the forefront of the critical mineral revolution thanks to great companies like Green Li-ion,” Stitt said. “We have an amazing energy advantage in our state, and we’re using it to our advantage to secure the critical mineral supply chain and cement these technologies in the U.S. for generations to come. I’m proud to welcome Green Li-ion to Oklahoma and look forward to seeing their impact on the community.”

The Atoka battery recycling plant, which is fully operational, is now processing unsorted battery material, or black mass, from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and converting it into products suitable for the production of new batteries.

Green Li-ion says its technology eliminates the need to ship black mass overseas, “creating a more sustainable and secure domestic supply chain for critical battery minerals and giving North American manufacturers greater control over them.”

“Opening our Atoka plant marks a turning point for sustainable battery manufacturing in the U.S.,” Green Li-ion. co-founder and CEO Leon Farrant says “A domestic source for recycled battery materials strengthens the supply chain, fosters economic growth and creates new opportunities in Atoka and across the country."

Green Li-ion's patented Green Hydrorejuvenation technology converts collected scrap directly into battery-grade pCAM entirely in-house.

The Atoka facility can accept unsorted black mass from batteries with varying lithium-ion chemistries, Green Li-ion says, and convert into 99 percent pure pCAM at commercial scale.

“This onshoring approach benefits manufacturers and recyclers by reducing costs and emissions [and] aligning with the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives for domestic battery production and recycled materials,” the company adds.

Green Li-ion says its process reduces environmental impact by emitting up to 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with some other battery recycling methods.

“We’re excited to welcome Green Li-ion to rural Oklahoma,” says Tina Lindsay, interim director of business development for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “This new state-of-the-art plant further establishes Oklahoma as a leader in innovation and domestic supply chain independence.”