Lifthium joins the largest European consortium for electric battery development

Lifthium Energy, a European company and wholly owned subsidiary of Bondalti and the Portuguese based José de Mello has just become a member of the IPCEI EuBaTin (Important Project of Common European Interest - European Battery Innovation), being the sole Portuguese company with a green lithium conversion project to join this European consortium. Following an invitation from the Ministry of Economy and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate, Lifthium participated in the demanding IPCEI competition in 2023, and its application was approved last Friday, January 19th.

With this approval, Lifthium joins a consortium composed of companies from Germany, Belgium, Finland, France, and Italy that develop projects within the electric battery value chain. The Portuguese company operates in the raw materials and advanced materials sector. The technology developed by Lifthium, involving lithium refinement through electrolysis, played a decisive role in joining the IPCEI EuBaTin. This process will be entirely powered by renewable energy, replacing conventional methods with a higher carbon footprint.

Through this technology, Lifthium aims to globally pioneer the use of electrolysis for lithium refinement and the utilization of precursor materials from recycling. In this way, the company seeks to play a significant role in achieving the goals set by the European Union and protecting the environment by reducing the extraction of natural resources. Specifically, Lifthium aspires to make the industry more sustainable, reducing carbon emissions associated with lithium refinement by over 50% by 2030, ensuring the sustainability of the entire value chain. The company prioritizes raw materials that meet the highest ESG standards and combats waste in industrial production, thereby reducing the industry's environmental footprint.

According to Duarte Braga, CEO of Lifthium, "IPCEI is crucial for achieving the European Union's objectives in crucial areas such as the energy transition and sovereignty. Being the only Portuguese company with a lithium conversion project in this consortium is both a great responsibility and added motivation to continue working towards becoming a global reference in green lithium refinement."