Overview of Recent Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Initiatives in China

### Summary of Recent Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Projects

#### 1. Lvjin Renewable Resources’ EV Battery Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization Project

Recently, the official website of the Development and Reform Commission of Qijiang District, Chongqing, announced the acceptance of the “Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization Project” by Chongqing Lvjin Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. This project is dedicated to the cascade utilization of end-of-life lithium batteries from electric vehicles (EVs). It will employ specialized processes such as disassembly, reassembly, crushing, screening, acid leaching, and extraction to recycle and reuse retired lithium-ion single-cell batteries. With a total investment of Yuan 300 million, the project includes one cascade utilization production line and one battery powder recycling production line. Upon completion, it will process 50,000 tonnes of retired EV lithium batteries annually, encompassing 10,000 tonnes of waste ternary lithium batteries and 40,000 tonnes of waste lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The expected output will comprise 12,000 tonnes of lithium batteries, 3,336 tonnes of lithium carbonate, 1,954.25 tonnes of manganese sulfate, 2,157.21 tonnes of cobalt sulfate, 5,052.07 tonnes of nickel sulfate, and 7,140.33 tonnes of sodium sulfate. Since its inception in 2019, Chongqing Lvjin Renewable Resources Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. has specialized in recycling and cascade utilization of retired power batteries from EVs, progressively building a comprehensive industrial chain that includes battery dismantling, cascade utilization, and resource regeneration.

#### 2. Hunan Yuneng Recycling Technology’s Battery Dismantling and Recycling Project

Recently, the Economic Development Zone of Xiangxiang City, Hunan Province, issued a public announcement regarding the Planning Proposal for the 20,000-tonne Waste Lithium-Ion Battery Dismantling and Recycling Project and the 30,000-tonne Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Annual Production Project. This initiative represents a significant advancement for Hunan Yuneng Recycling Technology as it progresses with its two major new energy material projects in Xiangxiang City. With a planned investment of Yuan 150 million, the project will be situated within the reserved Phase II site of the existing factory area, enabling an annual capacity to dismantle and recycle 20,000 tonnes of waste lithium batteries upon completion. The battery-grade lithium carbonate production project will include facilities such as warehouses, roasting workshops, acid leaching workshops, and acid-alkali storage tanks. It will utilize spodumene as the raw material, incorporating processes like roasting, acidification, and leaching to produce lithium sulfate solution, which will then undergo purification, evaporation, and lithium precipitation to ultimately yield battery-grade lithium carbonate. Established in 2023, Hunan Yuneng Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on three main areas: electronic specialty materials manufacturing, power battery recycling, and resource regeneration.

#### 3. 200,000-tonne Lithium Solid Waste Slag Recycling Project

The Hanyuan Ecological Environment Bureau of Ya’an City, Sichuan Province, has recently released the first environmental impact assessment (EIA) public notice for the “Comprehensive Recycling and Utilization Project for Lithium Solid Waste Slag” by Sichuan Jinhong Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. Located at Xiaowanping, Wanli Industrial Park, Hanyuan County, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province, this project plans to establish a 200,000-tonne lithium solid waste slag comprehensive recycling production line within a total construction area of 20,968 m². Key facilities will include a raw material workshop, hazardous waste warehouse, crushing and grinding workshop, solid waste warehouse, leaching workshop, biomass pellet warehouse, biomass boiler, finished product impurity removal workshop, and auxiliary material warehouse. Established in September 2022, Sichuan Jinhong Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. specializes in processing metal and non-metal waste materials and renewable resource recovery.

#### 4. 80,000-Tonne Lithium Battery Black Mass Project

Recently, the official website of Jiangxi Tong’an Safety Evaluation Co., Ltd. published the “Safety Acceptance Evaluation Report for Jiangxi Longxiang Lithium Battery’s Annual 80,000-Tonne Lithium Battery Black Mass Project (Phase I)“, indicating that the project is set to commence official production. With a total investment of Yuan 250 million, the project will utilize various raw and auxiliary materials throughout the production process, including anode sheets, ternary cathode sheets, LCO cathode sheets, LFP cathode sheets, various lithium battery cells, and chemical raw materials such as sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide. The final products will include anode powder, ternary cathode powder, LCO cathode powder, and LFP cathode powder. Jiangxi Longxiang Lithium Battery Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangdong Jinsheng New Energy Co., Ltd., was established in Longnan City, Jiangxi Province. Jinsheng New Energy has developed a comprehensive, integrated business ecosystem covering lithium battery recycling, cascading utilization, and regeneration, creating a complete lithium battery recycling supply chain system.