Primobius, a German-based battery recycling company, has announced entering into binding licensing and option agreements with Stelco Inc., one of North America’s leading steelmakers, to commercialize the former’s electric vehicle battery recycling and processing technologies across the North American market. 

As per the agreement, Primobius will have an option to acquire between 25%–50% equity in Stelco’s subsidiary company, which if not exercised, will give Stelco the exclusive rights to utilize Primobius’s battery recycling technology across the US, Canada, and Mexico in return for a gross revenue royalty payment.

Under the terms of the agreement, Primobius will provide Stelco with a license to secure steel scraps feedstocks from batteries and start the engineering and approval processes using Primobius’s recycling technology. Stelco expects to utilize Primobius’ battery recycling technology at its shredding and hydrometallurgical refinery facility, which has the capacity to process 20,000 net ton electric lithium-ion batteries per year. The recycling technology is expected to generate 18,400 net tons of nickel, manganese, cobalt sulfates, and lithium hydroxide annually alongside 40,000 net tons of steel scrap per year. 

The partnership will allow Stelco to recycle electric batteries and establish a close loop for auto recycling in producing green steel, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, targeting original equipment manufacturers (OEM). The company also has plans to build additional recycling facilities across North America.