Rock Tech Lithium Inc. was granted its first partial license in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) for its lithium hydroxide conversion plant in Guben, Germany, according to a press release. It will officially be put to use on March 27.
"It is a great day, and a remarkable milestone has been reached," Rock Tech's Chief Operating Officer Klaus Schmitz said. "We have already achieved an essential progress in securing critical planning and pre-agreements for long lead items, and the basic engineering is done. The Bankable Project study completed last year, and Front End Loading Study Level 3 is in its final stage and should be completed soon. We are strongly convinced that this first partial license supports and accelerates further progress in the realization of this first of its kind project in Europe."
The company received its first partial permit from the Licensing Authority South of the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment, following the submission of its lithium conversion plant plans in February 2022. The permit follows the Early Start Permissions the project received in December 2022 and January 2023, and it approves the start of initial tasks onsite.
The permit allows full construction of all non-process buildings and site infrastructure and approves the general plant layout and functions for converting spodumene to lithium hydroxide.
The company has already completed all required permit submissions, including the second tranche titled "Application for the 2nd Partial License for the Construction of the Production Plant and Commissioning of the Entire Plant," which was submitted this past November. The company is working in collaboration with local authorities and third-party experts to secure timely approval for this permit.