German Altmark Project Achieve Breakthrough: KBR and Neptune Energy Produce 99.5% Purity Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate from Gas Field Brine

in Altmark, Germany, KBR and Neptune Energy have achieved a milestone in the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li CO₂) with a purity of up to 99.5 percent from gas-field brine. This breakthrough not only marks a key step in the development of sustainable lithium resources in Europe, but also provides reliable and localized lithium supply guarantee for the electric vehicle and consumer electronics industries.

The project was launched in November 2024. Under the technical guidance of KBR, Neptune Energy will extract lithium chloride (LiCl) from gas field brine and complete the first technical grade lithium carbonate production. The extraction process uses Geolith's direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, while the subsequent refining process relies entirely on KBR's own PureLi® technology. Through this technology, lithium chloride is converted to lithium carbonate with a purity that meets battery production standards, and its 99.5 percent purity index far exceeds the industry benchmark.

The core advantage of PureLi® technology is its modular and integrated design, which covers the three key steps of lithium chloride concentration, deep impurity removal and lithium carbonate crystallization. This process not only improves production efficiency, but also ensures the stability of product quality, and provides strong support for the continuous growth of the lithium-ion battery market.

"Building a regional lithium supply chain is critical to energy security," said Hari Ravindran, senior vice president of

KBR Technology Solutions. "Our PureLi® technology supports the EV industry's demand for high-purity lithium." Axel Wenke, director of new energy at Neptune Energy, stressed the value of the collaboration: "KBR's professional guidance in the DLE field has enabled us to successfully achieve our goal of extracting lithium carbonate from Altmark brine in Lingen's laboratory."

this breakthrough not only verifies the feasibility of extracting high-purity lithium from gas field brine, but also highlights the role of technological innovation in promoting sustainable energy development. By combining KBR's refining technology with Neptune Energy's extraction capabilities, the two companies set an industry benchmark for reducing dependence on imported lithium and promoting environmental sustainability.

With the surge in demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, the efficient development of lithium resources has become a central issue in the global energy transition. The successful implementation of Altmark project provides a replicable example for similar projects around the world, highlighting the key role of cross-cutting collaboration in achieving carbon neutrality.