First European Funding after getting recognition as a 'Strategic Project' - Rock Tech receives funding to lead Lithium Refining Innovation project by EIT RawMaterials EIT RawMaterials, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union has selected Rock Te
First European Funding after getting recognition as a 'Strategic Project' -
Rock Tech receives funding to lead Lithium Refining Innovation project by
EIT RawMaterials
EIT RawMaterials, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union has selected Rock Tech for funding to
commercialize novel lithium processing technologies in
Germany
.
Rock Tech will collaborate with leading research partners, including Advanced Minerals and Recycling Industrial Solutions (AdMiRIS), National Technical
University of
Athens
(NTUA), and Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek NV (VITO).
The project has been allocated a total funding of
EUR 2.5 million
of which Rock Tech will be receiving up to
EUR 1 million
to drive innovation and optimization
work of its lithium conversion processes.
TORONTO
,
June 11, 2025
/CNW/ -
Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
(TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FSE: RJIB)
(the "Company" or "Rock Tech")
is pleased to
announce that it has been selected for funding under the prestigious KAVA (Knowledge and Innovation Activities) grant program by EIT RawMaterials, the most
active network in the raw materials sector in
Europe
. This recognition supports Rock Tech's ongoing commitment to advancing innovative lithium refining solutions
in
Europe
and is the first funding awarded after Rock Tech's Lithium Hydroxide Convertor Guben (LHCG) project has been recognized as a strategic project under
Critical Raw Materials Project by the European Commission. Rock Tech will receive
EUR 800,000
to improve and innovate its lithium conversion process to be
applied to its Guben Converter in the future.
Under the KAVA Call-funding program, Rock Tech's Lithium subsidiary company Rock Tech Guben GmbH will collaborate with leading research and industry
partners, including NTUA (
Greece
), VITO (
Belgium
), and Admiris (
Greece
), to optimize lithium extraction processes and enhance lithium hydroxide monohydrate
(LHM) production from spodumene. Rock Tech believes this optimization work will create substantial future operational and cost benefits for the Guben Converter.
"We are honored to be selected for the KAVA Call funding and to work jointly with partners to commercialize innovative, potentially game-changing lithium
processing technologies", comments
Mirco Wojnarowicz
, Rock Tech's CEO.
The selected project, named OLiVer (Hard rock Lithium Extraction and Purified Value Products for Energy Applications) will demonstrate innovative processes at
pilot scale, significantly improving lithium recovery efficiency and reducing environmental impact in line with EU green transition goals. The OLiVer project will focus
on four main objectives:
1
.
Optimizing pyro-hydro-metallurgical processing to enhance lithium extraction efficiency from spodumene.
2
.
Developing a novel secondary lithium sulfate recovery process, enabling improved lithium recovery rates.
3
.
Integrating primary and secondary lithium sulfate streams to boost overall LHM production yield.
4
.
Conducting pilot-scale demonstrations to establish commercial viability for the enhanced lithium extraction process.
With this project, Rock Tech aims to drive forward the EU's critical raw materials strategy and sustainability goals by producing high-purity LHM for electric vehicle
batteries regionally.
ABOUT ROCK TECH
Rock Tech's vision is to supply the electric vehicle and battery industry with sustainable, locally produced Lithium, targeting a 100% recycling rate. To ensure
resilient supply chains, the company plans to build Lithium converters at the doorstep of its customers, beginning with the Company's proposed Lithium-Hydroxide
Converter in Guben, Brandenburg,
Germany
. The second Converter is planned to be built in
Red Rock, Ontario, Canada
. Rock Tech Lithium plans to source raw
material from its own
Georgia Lake
spodumene project in the Thunder Bay Mining District of
Ontario, Canada
, and procure from other ESG-compliant mines.
Ultimately, Rock Tech's goal is to create a closed-loop Lithium production system. Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry to close the
most pressing gap in the clean mobility story. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary
refining process to increase efficiency and sustainability further.
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking
information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release,
words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would",
"could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains
forward-looking information pertaining to expectations concerning the Guben Converter, including the design and features of the Guben Converter, as well as the
expected costs, capital expenditures, timing and outcomes thereof; statements regarding the Company's future plans, estimates, and schedules relating to the
Guben Converter, including the anticipated timing of future activities taken in support of the development thereof; Rock Tech's potential financing arrangements;
the expected funding under the KAVA grant program by EIT RawMaterials, the expected economic performance of the Guben Converter and anticipated
production of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide and related processing methods and innovation employed; the estimated capital and operating costs of the Guben
Converter; the anticipated timing and outcomes of a final investment decision, construction activities and commissioning of the Guben Converter; statements
regarding the Company's sustainability and ESG related goals and strategy, including the benefits and achievement thereof and future actions taken by the
Company in relation thereto; expected regulatory processes and final outcomes; expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry, including the demand for and
pricing of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide and the benefits therefrom, and the development of political and regulatory frameworks especially in
Germany
and the
European Union; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and
projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties. Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on
assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and annual
information form filed with the applicable securities regulators. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements
will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not
intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in
assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX
VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
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For further information:
Kerstin Wedemann, Chief Legal & Corporate Officer: [email protected]; +49 2102 894 1122, Rock Tech Lithium Inc,
2700-40 Temperance Street, Toronto ON M5H 0B4 CAN.
CO: Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
CNW 06:30e 11-JUN-25