Lithium giants Ronbay and Rock Tech team up to offer battery materials in Europe
In a strategic move to bolster the European battery materials industry, German-Canadian company Rock Tech Lithium and Chinese cathode active materials producer Ronbay Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery materials supply chain in Europe.
The collaboration aims to localize and strengthen the battery materials ecosystem for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage in the region. Rock Tech, a lithium refining specialist, will provide battery-grade lithium hydroxide to Ronbay's cathode production facilities in Europe, while Ronbay will produce cathode materials at its recently acquired facility in Konin, Poland.
Rock Tech's planned refinery in Guben, Germany, is expected to produce approximately 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually, enough to support more than 500,000 EVs. The refinery's commercial production is set to begin in 2026. On the other hand, Ronbay's Konin facility, which includes factory buildings, laboratory buildings, and auxiliary facilities, will produce 25,000 tons of mid- to high-nickel ternary materials annually, matching the output of Rock Tech's lithium hydroxide supply. Construction and environmental assessment of the Konin facility are complete, with equipment installation expected to finish in 2025, leading to commercial production in 2026.
Both companies will offer direct support, including technical resources and potential investment, to each other's projects. Ronbay will provide technical resources and may invest directly into Rock Tech's converter project in Guben, Germany, to accelerate progress. The companies will also collaborate on market development, leveraging Ronbay's technical expertise and Rock Tech's local refining capabilities.
The agreement is currently a non-binding framework, with binding contracts to follow as the projects advance. No specific investment amounts have been disclosed yet.
The partnership responds to the growing demand for localized lithium-ion battery materials in Europe and aims to enhance supply chain resilience. By pairing Rock Tech's lithium hydroxide production with Ronbay's cathode manufacturing, the partnership directly supports the scale-up of European battery production, reducing geopolitical and logistical risks associated with overseas supply chains.
The collaboration positions both companies as key players in the continent's transition to electric mobility. The produced materials are sufficient for about 500,000 EVs, and Ronbay's product portfolio includes mid- and high-nickel ternary cathode materials, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), sodium-ion battery cathode materials, and precursor materials for cathode active materials (pCAMs).
| Company | Project Location | Capacity (Annual) | Product | Timeline | |-------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------| | Rock Tech Lithium | Guben, Germany | 24,000 tons | Lithium hydroxide | Production from 2026[1] | | Ronbay Technology | Konin, Poland | 25,000 tons | Cathode materials (mid/high-nickel) | Production from 2026[1][2] |
This partnership represents a significant step toward European battery material self-sufficiency. Necessary environmental assessment procedures are in place for the facility in Konin, Poland, which Ronbay acquired from a former Johnson Matthey cathode materials facility. The companies expect to complete equipment installation in 2025, paving the way for commercial production in 2026.
The collaboration between Rock Tech Lithium and Ronbay Technology aims to expand the European battery materials industry by establishing a vertically integrated supply chain, also involving finance as both companies plan to invest in each other's projects. The partnership is expected to produce technology-based products, including lithium hydroxide, mid- to high-nickel ternary materials, and precursor materials for cathode active materials, which will contribute to the energy sector by powering electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
By pairing Rock Tech's lithium hydroxide production with Ronbay's cathode manufacturing in Europe, the partnership aims to reduce dependence on overseas supply chains, enhancing the region's supply chain resilience in the finance, energy, and technology sectors.
