Green Li-ion
Green Li-ion is a battery recycling company headquartered in Singapore that was established in 2020. The firm processes end-of-life lithium-ion batteries to extract materials for manufacturing new batteries. Operations span the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, and Australia. HistoryLeon Farrant and Reza Katal established Green Li-ion in 2020.[1] The company opened a processing facility in Atoka, Oklahoma during April 2024, situating it within a pre-existing recycling operation.[2][3] This facility employs hydrometallurgical methods to convert black mass—pulverized battery waste—into precursor materials for cathodes, known as pCAM.[2] Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt participated in the June 2024 opening ceremony.[4] By July 2025, the company had secured a binding supply contract with WMC, a global commodity trading firm, covering NCM hydroxide deliveries extending to 2030.[5] OperationsGreen Li-ion's Atoka site extracts pCAM, lithium carbonate, and anode components from depleted lithium-ion batteries.[3][6] The operation converts black mass—shredded remnants of exhausted batteries—into materials meeting battery production specifications.[4] Company CEO Leon Farrant stated the plant enables domestic processing of batteries previously shipped to Asia, returning refined materials to North American supply chains.[4] Initial output reached two metric tons of pCAM daily, with expansion plans targeting four-fold growth over one year.[3][2] According to Chemical & Engineering News, annual production capacity ranges between 600 and 1,100 metric tons of cathode precursor materials.[2] The facility launched with six staff members, with workforce projections reaching 20 employees as operations scale.[3] Current U.S. practice involves exporting most recovered battery materials to China as unprocessed black mass.[7] Reuters reported the firm has engaged in negotiations with mining corporation Glencore and nickel processor Westwin regarding sales of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), a recyclate used in battery production.[7] Management selected Oklahoma for U.S. operations based on workforce skills developed through the state's oil and gas sector.[7] Industry contextThe Atoka plant represents one element of industry-wide efforts to relocate battery material processing from overseas locations, particularly China, back to North America.[3] Growth in recycling operations stems from evolving regulations and government incentives. The European Union enacted mandatory battery recycling targets effective 2025,[8] while the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act treats domestic battery recyclates as American-made materials, qualifying manufacturers for production tax credits.[6] Oklahoma has developed into a hub for critical mineral processing, hosting numerous battery recycling and refining operations either active or under development.[7] The company competes with firms including Li-Cycle, Ascend Elements, Redwood Materials, and Blue Whale Materials in the battery recycling sector.[9][7] See alsoReferences
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