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- June 2025, 16:53
Lithium mining facility in Salzwedel commences operation for the second time.
Neptune Energy, an energy company, has launched its second pilot plant for lithium extraction in the Altmark region. After a testing phase, the company aims to produce thousands of tons of lithium carbonate in the coming years. Yet, the project encounters obstacles.
Source: Our Website SACHSEN-ANHALT
Neptune Energy ignites its second pilot plant for lithium extraction harnessing geothermal water in the Altmark region. The company anticipates gleaning valuable insights for future project development from these plants, as per CEO Andreas Scheck.
During a lengthy experimental stage, assorted technologies will undergo testing to extract lithium from deep, hot water. The company previously started a first pilot plant at the year's end.
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A sizable lithium deposit lurks beneath the Altmark region. The somewhat contentious company Neptune Energy is now researching the extraction process. Our reporter got a peek at the visions in Steinitz.
Source: Our Website SACHSEN-ANHALT TODAY
The novel test facility is located in the Steinitz district of Salzwedel. Here, Neptune Energy utilizes antiquated boreholes from the natural gas sector to draw water from the depths, harboring lithium particles within it. The operation, approved by the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Geology and Mining, began in early June and is initially slated to run till the end of July.
Lithium is deemed a crucial element for batteries in electric vehicles and a vital component in the energy transition. Based on company statements, up to 25,000 tons of lithium carbonate may potentially be extracted from the Altmark region annually, which would suffice for creating batteries for about 500,000 electric automobiles.
Resistance to Lithium Extraction
Germany boasts several regions with potentially profitable lithium deposits. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, these areas include the Ore Mountains, the Upper Rhine Valley, and regions such as the Altmark area [2].
However, the project also meets resistance. Since the project was divulged in April the previous year, over 22,000 individuals have signed an online petition against lithium extraction in the region and adjacent Lüneburg Heath [2].
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1 Comment
DanielSBK 22 hours ago
"Since the plans were announced in April last year, over 22,000 people have signed an online petition against lithium mining in the Altmark and neighboring Lüneburg Heath regions, as reported by the public broadcaster MDR."👍👍👍👍
- Neptune Energy's second lithium extraction pilot plant, in the Altmark region, could potentially secure large sums of finance for the renewable-energy industry by supplying lithium for electric vehicle batteries, a critical component in the global energy transition.
- With research and financing opportunities for the renewable-energy industry on the horizon, increased public awareness and opposition against lithium extraction projects could pose challenges for companies like Neptune Energy in the industry's pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
