European Union warned ‘lithium hazard’ classification could endanger battery investments.
Draft proposals that might imply the lithium utilized in electric car batteries is designated as a hazardous materials within the EU may choke-off investments at an important time for the bloc’s nascent battery manufacturing business, a number one international chemical substances producer has instructed BESJ.
Battery business leaders have already condemned the proposals* by the European Chemical substances Company’s Committee for Danger Evaluation (RAC) that counsel lithium carbonate, chloride and hydroxide ought to obtain a ‘Class 1A’ (a recognized human carcinogen) classification.
Now Albemarle, the US-based speciality chemical substances producer with vegetation worldwide, has warned the classification “would have a unfavorable influence on the chance to determine lithium conversion vegetation in Europe”.
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Albermarle instructed BESJ:
If the proposals go forward lithium carbonate and hydroxide may very well be processed outdoors of Europe after which imported, with unfavorable results on European strategic autonomy.
‘Uncertainty’
“Inappropriate classification of the three lithium salts would create enterprise uncertainty on which markets may very well be served, for which functions, but additionally on the economic processes and which security measures and plant necessities would apply, deterring traders from committing to Europe at an important time for the whole lithium worth chain.
Buyers may subsequently discover different markets extra engaging.”
“Comparable limitations on investments would possible happen for the recycling of waste batteries and lithium-rich slag, as a consequence of regulatory uncertainty attributable to this classification.”
Requested whether or not the proposals put the way forward for Albemarle’s Langelsheim plant in Germany in danger, the corporate mentioned: “Whereas the influence to our speciality clients is unclear at this level, we don’t anticipate closure of Langelsheim.”
Nonetheless, Albemarle mentioned a number of of Langelsheim’s industrial clients don’t use another 1A substances and “can be compelled to implement very strict guidelines to regulate the substance or search for options, which are sometimes not obtainable or much less performing”.
‘Irreplaceable’
This may have a “direct influence on the plant income, which can already should face larger working prices in comparison with non-EU opponents because of the proposed classification”.
In March, a report printed collectively by EUROBAT and industries representing producers of batteries, ceramic frits and sophisticated inorganic color pigments, lubricants and greases and autos, mentioned the three lithium salts have been “elementary and irreplaceable constructing blocks for the shift to electric mobility, the mixing of renewables within the energy combine and extra usually the achievement of the Green Deal targets”.
*The RAC’s ‘Opinion proposing harmonised classification and labelling at EU degree of lithium carbonate, lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide’ are being thought of by EU member states, with responses anticipated to be made within the coming weeks. The European Fee didn’t reply to BESJ’s request for remark by the point of going to press.
EU warned ‘lithium hazard’ classification could endanger battery investments, June 9, 2022
