Bilfinger and Rock Tech Lithium have signed a letter of intent for Bilfinger to serve as EPCM (engineering, procurement, construction manager) to Rock Tech Lithium. The agreement relates to the construction of Europe's first lithium hydroxide converter. The production plant for battery-grade lithium hydroxide is to be built in Guben, Brandenburg, Germany, and when completed will produce 24,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide annually for the batteries of 500,000 electric cars.

Rock Tech's project is currently at an advanced planning stage. Bilfinger will provide engineering services directly and, in the event of realization, primarily further procurement services as well as construction management. Rock Tech Lithium had announced on October 11, 2021, the construction of Europe's first lithium refinery and acquired the required site from the city of Guben.

Rock Tech Lithium pursues the goal of producing lithium hydroxide over the entire value chain with the lowest possible impact on the environment. Thus, together with the German Lithium Institute ITEL, the company has developed a zero-waste strategy, which envisages also recycling the by-products of lithium hydroxide production - for example in the gypsum industry. The aim is to recycle the lithium itself at a later stage.

Bilfinger is one of the leading international providers of industrial services and has extensive expertise in plant construction going back many years. The group covers the entire value chain - from consulting through manufacturing to the maintenance of industrial plants - and has already successfully implemented several projects in the electromobility sector, such as the construction of a BASF production plant for battery materials in Harjavalta, Finland.