BASF invests in battery waste as a resource
BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, has opened a new facility for recycling lithium-ion batteries in Schwarzheide, Germany. This facility is specifically designed to produce what is known as black mass, an important intermediate step in the battery recycling process. The black mass contains large amounts of valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, which can be used for the production of cathode materials (CAM).
Details of the facility
- Capacity: The facility can process up to 15,000 tons of old batteries per year, which corresponds to the batteries of 40,000 electric cars.
- Process: Old batteries and production residues are mechanically crushed to produce the black powder rich in the mentioned metals.
- Goal: The facility aims to help make Europe more independent from imports of essential materials and to meet EU requirements for a circular economy in battery production and recycling.
Significance for electromobility and investors
Sustainability: By recycling batteries, the demand for new raw materials can be reduced and the CO₂ footprint lowered, promoting the sustainable future of electromobility.
Market opportunities: The facility is part of the European strategy to strengthen the value chain of electromobility and offers investors opportunities in a growing market for sustainable technologies.
Further activities in Schwarzheide
BASF is already operating a fully automated large-scale production facility for cathode materials in Schwarzheide, the first of its kind in Europe. There is also a prototype metal refinery for battery recycling and one of the largest warehouses for black mass in Europe.
These developments demonstrate BASF’s commitment to sustainable and circular electromobility and provide investors with interesting perspectives in a rapidly evolving market.