Altmark lithium project enters second phase in Germany

Neptune Energy is advancing the second phase of its Altmark Lithium Extraction (ALE) project in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The project aims to recover lithium from geothermal brine located between 3,000 and 4,000 meters deep to bolster Europe’s domestic supply of critical raw materials for batteries.

Following an initial pilot phase that evaluated various technologies, Neptune Energy has selected an adsorption-based process for further testing. Evonik Industries will support this phase by providing its Liocel® adsorbent for evaluation at a pilot plant developed by Fraunhofer IEG. The Fraunhofer facility is capable of processing up to 1,000 liters of geothermal brine per day.

The Altmark region holds an estimated 43 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). If scaled to industrial levels, Neptune Energy aims to meet the lithium demand for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles annually, with production potentially ramping up from 2030. However, the project has faced local opposition, including an online petition signed by over 22,000 people against lithium mining in the Altmark and Lüneburger Heide regions.