LG Energy and Derichebourg Initiate Battery Recycling Joint Venture in France

Paris: LG Energy Solution Ltd. (LGES), South Korea's leading battery maker, announced a partnership with French metal scrap recycler Derichebourg (DBG) to establish a battery recycling joint venture (JV) in France. This strategic collaboration marks the first battery recycling JV between a South Korean and a European company in Europe.According to Yonhap News Agency, the 50:50 JV will lead to the construction of a battery recycling plant in Val-d'Oise, located just north of Paris. This facility will have the capacity to process over 20,000 tons of used batteries and scrap annually. Operations are expected to commence in 2027, as detailed in an LGES press release.An LGES official stated, "This partnership with DBG will serve as a stepping stone for the company to expand into the European battery recycling market." The plant will process used batteries and scrap into black mass, which can later be refined into essential battery materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These materials are crucial for t he battery manufacturing processes at LGES's global production facilities.The demand for used battery resources is anticipated to increase significantly in France. This is attributed to the country's substantial contribution to electric vehicle (EV) sales, accounting for 15 percent of total EV sales in Europe last year, as reported by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).