General Lithium is a leader in lithium compounds production in China. The facility is the first of several new production units expected to come on line in the coming years to supply lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for use in green technology products such as advanced batteries for electric vehicles and “3C” (Computer, Communication and Consumer Electronics) applications.
Veolia will supply three of its proprietary HPD® crystallizers to process spodumene rock into lithium products. Veolia is providing a unique Mechanical Vapor Recompression solution that enables the process to remove impurities to a very low level with low energy consumption, allowing a low cost production of high value products. Battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate will be produced in a two-stage crystallizer.
In addition to responding to specific technical and commercial requirements, Veolia proposed a fast-track approach to implementation to enable General Lithium to respond to the increasing demand on an accelerated timetable.
The increasing production of lithium hydroxide is occurring globally, with current mineral- and/or brine-based operations located in China, Australia and North and South America. Reflecting the growing demand, the price for lithium hydroxide has more than doubled during the past year.
“Demand for lithium hydroxide is projected to continue to grow rapidly over the next few years,” said Veolia Water Technologies, Inc. CEO, Klaus Andersen. “Veolia has demonstrated its expertise and the exceptional performance of its crystallization technology in supplying battery grade products, whether produced from brine or rocks. We look forward to working with our customers to enable them to help meet the rising global demand.”
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Veolia group is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 174 000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them.
In 2015, the Veolia group supplied 100 million people with drinking water and 63 million people with wastewater service, produced 63 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 42.9 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of $30.3 billion in 2015.
