Linca and Mitsui sign MOU to advance new technology for recovery of critical minerals from lithium-ion batteries

Linca, a battery mineral recovery company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. to explore collaboration on the commercialisation of Linca's black mass refining technology.

Linca's proprietary process takes black mass, an intermediate material recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing scrap, and refines it into lithium, nickel, and cobalt salts using a hydrometallurgical process designed for smaller-scale, locally deployed facilities.

Under the MOU, Linca and Mitsui will work together to identify global raw material sourcing opportunities, connect Linca’s recovered metal salts with potential off-takers, including pCAM/CAM manufacturers, and facilitate regular exchanges of technical and commercial information. The companies will also explore potential future joint venture opportunities in key target markets, including Japan, the United States and the European Union, subject to achieving agreed technical and commercial milestones.

Dr Ollie Crush, CEO at Linca, says the partnership reflects continued international interest in New Zealand’s cleantech sector and the breadth of problems it’s helping to solve.

“Getting recycled battery minerals back to market means solving two problems at once – securing supply of black mass feedstock to process, then getting the refined metal salts qualified with the manufacturers who'll use it. Mitsui's reach across both ends of the supply chain, from black mass sourcing through to cathode material producers, is what makes this partnership so valuable to us as Linca moves from demonstration towards commercial scale.”

Fumiya Kamikawaji, General Manager of the Battery Materials & Recycling Business Department at Mitsui & Co., Ltd., says the MOU will provide a framework for evaluating Linca’s technology and potential commercial applications.

“Building a circular battery value chain requires technically and commercially viable solutions for recovering valuable materials from end-of-life batteries. Through this collaboration, Mitsui will combine its global networks and market knowledge with Linca’s refining technology to evaluate its scalability and potential applications, including feedstock sourcing and engagement with prospective customers.”

Linca's technology is currently progressing through demonstration-scale development with the support of a grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and collaborators Jaguar Land Rover, LiBatt Recycling, and WMG at the University of Warwick. Linca recently secured a first close of NZ$5 million in its seed funding round to accelerate this work, with a final close expected at NZ$7 million.

About Mitsui

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is a global trading and investment company with a diversified business portfolio that spans approximately 63 countries in Asia, Europe, North, Central & South America, The Middle East, Africa and Oceania. Mitsui has about 5,500 employees and deploys talent around the globe to identify, develop, and grow businesses in collaboration with a global network of trusted partners. Mitsui has built a strong and diverse core business portfolio covering the Mineral and Metal Resources, Energy, Machinery and Infrastructure, Chemicals, and Mobility. In the battery and mobility sectors, Mitsui is pursuing initiatives across the value chain, including the reuse and recycling, with the aim of supporting decarbonisation and a circular economy.

For more information on Mitsui & Co's businesses, visit https://www.mitsui.com/jp/en/index.html

About Linca

Linca is a critical mineral recovery company focused on extracting lithium, nickel and cobalt from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. Linca is developing and commercialising a proprietary hydrometallurgical process to refine battery black mass in modular, capital-efficient facilities. Designed for regional-scale deployment, Linca’s platform will deliver domestic supply of critical minerals and enable refining capacity to scale alongside the growth of onshore battery recycling ecosystems. The company leads a £8.1 million project consortium with Jaguar Land Rover, LiBatt Recycling, and WMG at the University of Warwick, with a demonstration facility under construction.