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TORONTO, 27 November 2024

Rock Tech Lithium Inc. is proud to announce significant advancements at its Guben Converter site in Germany, bringing the project closer to completion of site preparation by Q1 2025. 

Two key goals have recently been achieved: 

1. Railway Connection Approved: The state railway supervisory authority (Landeseisenbahnaufsicht), within the Ministry of Infrastructure and State Planning, has granted approval to expand the Guben Süd industrial zone train line to Rock Tech’s site within the industrial area. This development will officially connect the Guben Lithium Converter to Germany’s rail network, enabling efficient transportation of critical raw materials such as spodumene concentrate from the ports of Hamburg and Bremen. The enhanced connection will also streamline the movement of reagents and by-products, ensuring smooth logistics for the facility’s operations. 
2. Gas Pipeline Relocation Completed: The relocation of the ONTRAS gas pipeline on the property has been finalized. The relocated pipeline is in operation since the 07^th Nov. and Rock Tech has now taken possession of the pipeline, with full ownership set to transfer on January 1, 2025, under the terms of a signed decommissioning agreement. 

These achievements mark significant progress in the development of the Guben Converter site, a cornerstone of Europe’s lithium supply chain. With nearly all preparatory construction tasks complete, the final steps include fencing the property and constructing a gas pressure reduction station, both scheduled for early 2025. 

“The completion of these milestones highlights the strong collaboration between Rock Tech and our Guben region partners,” said Henrik Wende, Plant Manager Guben. “We extend our gratitude to the City of Guben for its support and highly appreciate the availability of state funding for infrastructure improvements in Guben. We thank ONTRAS for assistance with gas pipe relocation, the State Railway Supervisory Authority for the railway connection permit, and IPP Hydro Consult GmbH for driving this project forward.” 

Rock Tech’s Guben Converter is set to play a pivotal role in Europe’s transition to sustainable energy by providing locally refined lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. These recent developments reinforce the Company’s commitment to delivering a robust and efficient supply chain solution for the European market.

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Rock Tech Lithium Inc. freut sich bekannt zu geben, dass es 1,4 Millionen CAD an Fördermitteln aus dem Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) der kanadischen Regierung zugeteilt bekommen hat. Der CMIF ist eine staatliche Initiative zur Unterstützung von Projekten im Bereich saubere Energie und Transportinfrastruktur im Sektor der kritischen Mineralien Kanadas. Vorbehaltlich der endgültigen Due-Diligence werden die Mittel verwendet, um die Fairloch Lake Road auszubauen und zu verlängern, so dass der Transport von Lithium haltigem Spodumen von der geplanten Georgia Lake Mine zu den Convertern ermöglicht wird. Die Lake Nipigon Forest Management (eine forstwirtschaftliche Genossenschaft der Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, Red Rock Indian Band, und Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek) wurde mit dem Straßenbau beauftragt. 

Dirk Harbecke, CEO von Rock Tech, kommentierte: „Wir fühlen uns geehrt, diese Förderung zur Unterstützung der Entwicklung unser Georgia Lake Mine zu erhalten. Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Projekten in Ontario profitiert unser Projekt von einer strategisch äußerst günstigen Lage mit bereits vorhandener umfangreicher Infrastruktur. Dies führt zu niedrigeren Entwicklungskosten im Vergleich zu entlegeneren Projekten.“ 




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The successful completion of the EMAS audit shows that sustainable management, environmental protection and the intelligent use of raw materials and energy in the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide play an important role in the corporate activities of Rock Tech Lithium in Guben. This is the world’s most demanding environmental management system in accordance with European standards. Currently, 35 organizations are registered with the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs). André Fritsche, Managing Director of the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce, presented the EMAS certificate today to Kerstin Wedemann, Chief Legal & Operations Officer, and Henrik Wende, Operational Readiness Manager, and thanked them for their commitment to the company, which plans to create around 170 jobs in Lusatia.

André Fritsche says: „The big challenge these days is to combine climate protection, resource conservation and creation of competitive advantages. We are therefore delighted that sustainability and resource conservation are top priorities in the construction of Europe’s largest lithium converter plant and associated infrastructure. Cooperation with local energy companies is an important building block in supplying the site with climate-neutral electricity and heat in the future. Energy efficiency and regional value chains form the basis of sustainable GreenTech industrial locations such as Guben. The activities are significant and make the region interesting for further investments in green future technologies made in Lusatia.“

From left to right: Dr. Klaus Freytag (Lusatia Representative), Henrik Wende (Operational Readiness Manager Rock Tech), Dorit Köhler (Head of Innovation and Sustainability) and André Fritsche (Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce) are delighted with Rock Tech’s successful EMAS audit.

Rock Tech Lithium wants to achieve high sustainability targets by 2030. These include a CO2-free supply chain and climate-neutral logistics, intelligent energy, water and waste management and the recording of all environmental impacts from production to recycling and disposal.

Kerstin Wedemann, CL&OO of Rock Tech Lithium, explains: „We are delighted to have received the certificate for the EMAS audit of our converter in Guben from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce today. This confirms our consistent efforts to reduce our environmental impact. Sustainable and resource-conserving management is part of our basic understanding as a company. Lusatia therefore also offers excellent conditions for us, as the distances both for the supply of green energy and to the customers of our product are short. This is why the CO2 footprint of our lithium hydroxide will also be 30 percent below the industry average, as our life cycle assessment has shown. We are proud to soon be able to make an important contribution to the emission-free and battery-powered future of the German automotive industry with our lithium hydroxide.“

Rock Tech Lithium is planning to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Guben. The project has an investment volume of 730 million EUR. The approval process is nearing completion, and the
subsidy application process is underway.


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Rock Tech selects Red Rock as the location for Ontario’s First Lithium Refinery and secures CAD 5.5mn project investment from the BMI Group

• Following an extensive location selection process, Rock Tech has selected the former Norampac Paper Mill site in Red Rock as the location to develop Ontario’s first Lithium Refinery.

• Rock Tech and the BMI Group signed a binding Cooperation Agreement outlining a long-term lease for the Converter location and a CAD 5.5mn investment by the BMI Group into the Project.

• With Rock Tech’s unparalleled expertise gained through the successful development of Europe’s first Lithium Converter in Germany, Red Rock is positioned to become Canada’s premier lithium refining destination.

Rock Tech Lithium Inc. and the BMI Group are pleased to announce the signing of a Cooperation Agreement. The Agreement bindingly confirms the parties’ plans to enter into a long-term lease contract for the location of Ontario’s first Lithium Converter. The Red Rock site was selected by Rock Tech following the successful completion of a comprehensive site-assessment process. BMI further commits to invest CAD 5.5mn into the Project as part of the Agreement.

Rock Tech has decided to develop Ontario’s first Lithium Converter on the former Norampac Paper Mill site in Red Rock. The township of Red Rock is located approximately 110 km northeast of Thunder Bay, along the Trans-Canada Highway 17, on the north shore of Lake Superior. Rock Tech’s 100% owned Georgia Lake mining project is located approximately 60 km north of Red Rock.

In early 2023, Rock Tech engaged in an extensive site selection process. Several green and brown-field sites across Ontario and the Northern United States were evaluated. Rock Tech’s comprehensive expertise in developing Europe’s first Lithium Converter in Germany was instrumental in running an efficient and successful selection process in Canada. Since 2021, the Company has invested over 350,000 engineering hours and CAD 60mn into developing the Guben Lithium Converter in Germany.

Among others, the location in Red Rock was selected due to:

I. The availability of major supporting infrastructure including the proximity to BMI’s emerging multimodal logistics hub and an energy grid providing abundant clean electricity.

II. Strong support for the Project by the local community and Indigenous partners.

III. Its proximity to the Georgia Lake project.

With BMI developing multimodal road and rail logistics capabilities in the port of Red Rock, the location is strategically positioned to become the prime lithium refining destination in Northern Ontario. Equipped with the capability to process lithium from third-party mining projects, the Red Rock Converter will further unlock Northern Ontario’s nascent lithium mining sector.

“This is a fundamental milestone for our North American Lithium refinery plans,“ explains Kerstin Wedemann, Rock Tech’s Chief Legal & Operations Officer, “Lithium Converters are large value-added production facilities. Substantial infrastructure and several supporting factors are required to enable such projects. Our site selection process evaluated more than 150 different criteria and determined that Red Rock is the best location for this important Project.”

The binding Cooperation Agreement signed between Rock Tech and BMI is comprised of two aspects:

I. Rock Tech and BMI will enter into a long-term lease agreement for an area of approximately 50 acres (20 hectares) on the former Norampac Paper Mill site in Red Rock, allowing Rock Tech to develop, build and operate Ontario’s first Lithium Converter.

II. BMI will invest CAD 5.5 mn into Rock Tech’s Red Rock Lithium Converter on the asset-level of the Project. The investment by BMI will include an equity component, where BMI will acquire an equity stake in the Project, as well as a long-term loan.

The exact terms and conditions of the lease and investment agreements will be negotiated in the coming weeks and amongst others are subject to the outcome of usual due diligence.

“We believe in strong partnerships and the community benefits our projects can generate,” Rock Tech’s CEO Dirk Harbecke adds, “For over a decade now, we have been committed to developing relationships with our Indigenous partners in the area. With our decision to build our first Ontario Lithium Converter in Red Rock we are proud to honour their request to refine where we mine. The Red Rock community is eager to see a large industrial project return. BMI shares this vision of realizing sustainable economic development in Northern Ontario, demonstrated by their asset-level investment into the Red Rock Lithium Converter Project.”

“From developing the northernmost port on the Great Lakes in partnership with the Red Rock Indian Band to working with the town of Red Rock, Iron and Oak Railroad Services, and Hydro One, we’ve been working to make Red Rock industry-ready,” commented Paul Veldman, CEO of the BMI Group, “Today, that work has secured a pivotal partnership with Rock Tech and a new future for the Red Rock community. Together, we’re working to fortify Ontario’s Critical Mineral Corridor from the North to Niagara to establish a robust, made-in-Ontario lithium supply chain crucial for meeting the province’s burgeoning automotive and battery manufacturing potential. At PDAC 2024, we’ll be meeting with industry partners to discuss the Port of Red Rock, Rock Tech’s Lithium Converter capabilities, and the Critical Mineral Corridor strategic supply chain.”


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Rock Tech Lithium Inc. is pleased to announce that it will participate in this year’s Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention (PDAC) in Toronto, March 3-6 2024. Rock Tech’s team will be hosting investors, partners, and the public at the Company’s booth. The Company also announces that it has granted stock options to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company.

Rock Tech Lithium is attending this year’s Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention (PDAC) in Toronto. The Company is hosting booth number 2340 in the Investor Exchange area at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). Rock Tech will highlight its Georgia Lake mining project and the development for its Northern Ontario Lithium Converter. Kerstin Wedemann, the Company’s newly appointed Chief Legal & Operations Officer, will also be attending the show. Please contact the team at pdac@rocktechlithium.com to schedule a meeting or simply stop by the booth during the convention. 

The company also announces that is has granted 3,170,000 stock options to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company. All Options were granted in accordance with the Company’s Stock Option Plan. 1,250,000 of the options were issued to Directors and Officers of the Company. The Options were granted at an exercise price of $1.13. The Options will vest immediately and are exercisable for a five-year term, expiring February 21, 2029. 

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Rock Tech Lithium is pleased to announce the appointment of Kerstin Wedemann as Chief Legal & Operations Officer. Kerstin has served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Rock Tech for nearly two years. In her new role, Kerstin will continue to leverage her legal expertise while also overseeing and scaling the company’s projects in Europe and Canada.

Kerstin gained her expertise in large international corporations, such as the Japanese Mitsubishi/Hitachi Power, the US-based Harsco Corp., and Danaher Corp. She has held senior international positions and has a strong background in the energy and plant engineering sector.

At Rock Tech, she will continue to leverage her legal expertise while also playing a pivotal role in shaping strategic initiatives and driving legal and operational excellence. She will assume responsibilities for the Company’s operational functions, which were previously held by Mr. Klaus Schmitz, who assumed the COO position on an interim basis in November 2022 in addition to his role as director of the Board. Mr. Schmitz will now fully concentrate on his duties as a member of the Board of Directors.

„We are delighted to appoint Kerstin to the position of Chief Legal & Operations Officer,“ said Dirk Harbecke, Chairman and CEO of Rock Tech Lithium. „Her deep understanding of our business and commitment to excellence make her the ideal candidate to lead our legal and operational efforts. Her vision and proven leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving marketplace”.

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Rock Tech Lithium Inc. is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,478,754 Units at a price $1.30 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5.8 million.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of Rock Tech (the “Common Shares”, with such Common Shares comprising the Units, the “Unit Shares”) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a “Warrant”, and together with the Units and the Unit Shares, the “Securities”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) at an exercise price of $1.69 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance of such Warrant, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the certificate evidencing such Warrant, including adjustment in certain circumstances.

Rock Tech intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to finance the continued development of the Company’s Georgia Lake lithium project in Ontario, Canada (the „Georgia Lake Project“), including planned consolidation of adjacent properties/areas, for the development of the Company’s converter project in Canada and for general corporate purposes (including expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Offering).

“We are pleased to close the Offering with the investments from our stakeholders. We appreciate the continued support as we execute our business plan. We plan to continue discussions with strategic and financial investors to explore potential opportunities for investments directly at the project level, including the Company’s converter projects in Germany and Canada and the Georgia Lake Project.”, stated Dirk Harbecke, Chairman and CEO of the Company.

The Unit Shares and the Warrants are subject to a four month hold period, expiring on April 30, 2024, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V, as are any Warrant Shares issued on exercise of Warrants prior to the expiry of such hold period.

The Securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the „U.S. Securities Act“), or any state securities laws of any state of the United States and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

The Unit Shares and Warrant Shares have been conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX-V, which is subject to the final acceptance of the TSX-V.

See the Company’s press releases dated October 24, 2023 and December 8, 2023 for additional details regarding the Offering.

All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

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Rock Tech Lithium Inc. announces that it has received a 30-day extension from the TSX Venture Exchange to complete its non-brokered private placement of up to 7,692,307 units at $1.30 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to approximately $10 million, as previously announced on October 24, 2023.

The extension will provide sufficient time for certain subscribers to complete all necessary documentation and requirements for the Company to accept their subscriptions. Pursuant to the extension, the Company has until January 7, 2024 to complete the Offering; however, the Company expects to close the Offering on or about December 15, 2023.

The Company also announces that it is amending the terms of the Offering. Pursuant to the amended terms, the expiry date of the Warrants (as defined below) will be extended to 36 months following the date of issuance.

Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of Rock Tech (the “Common Shares”, with such Common Shares comprising the Units, the “Unit Shares”) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a “Warrant”, and together with the Units and the Unit Shares, the “Securities”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) at an exercise price of $1.69 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance of such Warrant, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the certificate evidencing such Warrant, including adjustment in certain circumstances.

The Unit Shares and the Warrants are subject to four month hold periods in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V, as will any Warrant Shares issued on exercise of Warrants prior to the expiry of such hold periods.

The Securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the „U.S. Securities Act“), or any state securities laws of any state of the United States and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. The Unit Shares and Warrant Shares have been conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX-V, which is subject to the final acceptance of the TSX-V. For additional details regarding the Offering, please refer to the Company’s press release dated October 24, 2023.

All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

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Rock Tech Lithium Inc. is pleased to announce that it has received a binding feedstock supply offer from Castelburg Industrie GmbH.

Castelburg, a renowned supplier in the automotive industry commits to supply a minimum of 250,000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate feedstock for the Company’s conversion facility in Guben, Germany over an initial five-year term of the envisaged agreement starting in 2024.

The execution of the binding supply agreement based on the terms of the Offer is subject to a positive result of ongoing due diligence. Under the supply agreement Rock Tech will annually source up to 60,000 dry metric tonnes from Castelburg’s source in Salta, Argentina, starting in H2 2024. The price of the spodumene concentrate is based on a discount to market prices and will be adjusted for the actual Li2O content. The supply agreement further provides for a potential increase of volumes and extension of the initial term subject to mutual agreement by the contract parties.

Dirk Harbecke, Rock Tech’s Chairman and CEO comments, ”This is an important milestone for Rock Tech and the advancement of our Guben project, as independent 3rd party feedstock is a key step to finalize the financing for our German converter. Castelburg is another strong European industry partner backs us, offering its relationships in South America to support our feedstock sourcing strategy.”

The Guben converter will be Germany’s first spodumene concentrate to lithium hydroxide refinery with an annual name plate capacity of 24,000 tonnes battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The receipt of the full permit to build and operate the plant is expected for early 2024. The current market outlook for Europe predicts that Lithium conversion capacity will be the major bottleneck in building a sustainable and resilient battery supply chain. Rock Tech’s Guben converter will hence be vital for the European battery industry and supply lithium chemicals for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles.

The execution of the supply agreement, including all logistics handling and financing will be facilitated by RTT Lithium SA, a 50%/50% joint venture established by Rock Tech and Transamine SA. RTT is also executing the due diligence, the positive finalization of which is condition precedent for the execution of a supply agreement.

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