43 million tons of lithium in the Altmark

30.09.2025

Source: E & M powernews

Experts have confirmed one of the world's largest lithium deposits in Saxony-Anhalt. However, it is still unclear how much of it can be used.

The energy company Neptune Energy has produced battery-grade lithium from deep water in the Altmark region of Saxony-Anhalt using the ion exchange process. It was the second pilot test for direct lithium extraction carried out by the company and its partner Lilac, according to a press release. The pilot test is a further step in the exploration of a lithium deposit that is considered to be one of the largest in the world: in August, the evaluation company Sproule ERCE identified resources amounting to 43 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

Lithium is considered a key raw material for high-tech applications. It is primarily required for the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric vehicles, stationary storage systems and portable electronics. Europe is currently heavily reliant on imports, particularly from China. The "Critical Raw Materials Act" aims to change this: By 2030, ten percent of the critical raw materials required are to be mined within Europe and 40 percent processed within Europe. Imports from a single third country are to be limited to 65%.

These are good conditions for Neptune Energy. The company (or its predecessor companies) has been extracting natural gas in the Altmarkt since 1969 and has held the "Jeetze-L" mining license and three exploration licenses for lithium in the region since 2024. The "Milde A-L" and "Milde C-L" exploration licenses were awarded to the company in 2024, followed by the "Milde B-L" license in the south-eastern part of the Altmark in 2025.

Third pilot test launched

However, only time will tell how much of the available lithium can actually be extracted. In an interview with MDR, Michael Schmidt, a researcher at the German Mineral Resources Agency (Dera) at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), points out that the 43 million tons of LCE now confirmed in the Altmark are still unproven resources. Worldwide, there are around 114 million tons of proven reserves and almost 500 million tons of resources, says Schmidt: "The figure for the lithium deposits of this project in the Altmark is therefore quite large, but should be viewed with some caution - it could also change as a result of further investigations". High production costs, stricter environmental standards and long approval procedures could also make projects like this more difficult, especially in comparison with international competitors.

Neptune Energy launched a third pilot test in mid-September with the aim of being able to technically evaluate an adsorption process. The pilot phase will be followed by a demonstration phase in which the use of a fully integrated extraction plant will be tested as the next step towards commercial production.

"The Altmark combines geological potential, established infrastructure and technical expertise - ideal conditions for successfully completing the transformation from fossil natural gas extraction to environmentally friendly lithium extraction," says Axel Wenke, Director New Energy at Neptune Energy, confidently.

Author: Katia Meyer-Tien