German Chancellor visits Vulcan’s Landau geothermal and lithium extraction facility
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Vulcan’s lithium and geothermal facilities in Germany (source: Vulcan Energy)
Carlo Cariaga
30 Jan 2025
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Vulcan Energy's geothermal and lithium extraction facility in Landau, stating the importance of a domestic lithium supply.
German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) visited the geothermal power and lithium extraction facility of Vulcan Energy Resources (Vulcan) in Landau, expressing strong support for the geothermal industry in Germany ahead of the federal elections. Accompanying the Chancellor during the visit was Alexander Schweitzer, Prime Minister of the Rhineland-Palatinate state.
Landau is the site of Vulcan’s upstream Lithium Extraction Optimization Plant (LEOP), where lithium chloride (LiCl) is extracted from geothermal brines. This facility was officially opened in November 2023. Lithium chloride from Landau is then sent to Vulcan’s Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Frankfurt-Höchst, where it is converted to lithium hydroxide.
During his visit, Scholz reiterated the importance of geothermal for the future energy needs of Germany, describing it as a “largely unused but very ecological option to ensure that we provide the heat needed for households and businesses in Germany.” The Chancellor had previously also visited geothermal projects in Geretsried and Potsdam.
Scholz also emphasized the need for a secure domestic lithium value chain in Germany and Europe and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to support the expansion of geothermal energy, targeting 100 new geothermal projects by 2030.
“The idea that we have to import lithium from many countries far away from us keeps cropping up, and we are dependent on those who sell it to us. In fact, in Europe, but especially in Germany, we have the foundations to be able to produce this raw material supply ourselves. In addition, we have a great deal of untapped potential for a sustainable heat supply, such as deep geothermal energy, which could supply both households and industry with renewable energy. This technology is trendsetting. As the German government, we actively support this innovative approach,” said Scholz.
“Vulcan’s mission is to deliver domestic and sustainable lithium to support Europe’s green energy and mobility transition. The Chancellor’s visit reaffirms the importance of our Lionheart Project as the most advanced integrated lithium and renewable energy project in Europe and gives us additional confidence that our work aligns with key policy priorities,” added Cris Moreno, Managing Director and CEO of Vulcan.
Source: Vulcan Energy and TiefeGeothermie
