OREANDA-NEWS  Mining company Vulcan Energy Resources has secured 2.2 billion euros in financing for the construction of the first phase of the Lionheart lithium project in Germany.

The company, whose shares are traded in Australia, said in a statement that the financing will be provided by European and German government agencies, the European Investment Bank, five export credit agencies and seven commercial banks.

Financing will be received in the form of loans, government grants, as well as through an additional issue of shares in the amount of 603 million euros.

The Lionheart project is expected to become the largest in Europe. It will be located in the Rhine Valley in Germany and aims to produce about 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year, enough to produce about 500,000 batteries for electric vehicles. The project also provides for the creation of the necessary infrastructure and a power plant powered by renewable energy sources.

Construction of the project will begin on Friday, with production expected to begin in 2028. The dates were postponed twice due to falling lithium prices to about $10,000 per ton from a peak of $70,000 per ton in 2023.