Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FSE: RJIB) (“Rock Tech” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the signing of a binding Business Combination Agreement (BCA) to form a business combination with Arcore AG (“Arcore”), an arm’s length Swiss-based mining company. The goal is to establish a fully integrated Lithium supply chain in Europe, reducing dependence on other regions for critical battery raw materials. Lithium is an essential mineral for the energy transition, and demand in Europe is expected to triple by 2030, driven by the increasing need for batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems as estimated by McKinsey & Company’s Battery Insight Demand Model.
Dirk Harbecke, Rock Tech CEO & Chairman, comments: “Strong European supply chains are essential to secure the regions’ strategic autonomy, promote industrial competitiveness and enable the transformation to a climate-neutral economy. Europe is currently heavily dependent on imports of critical raw materials such as lithium. This is an important step for Rock Tech to become the European leader in battery raw materials supply.”
Jeff Stone, Interim CEO Arcore, states: “Caring for this exceptionally vital asset of the Republic of Srpska is a fiduciary duty that we assume with the utmost responsibility. It is with that responsibility in mind that we formally submit our concession application. It is a privilege for Arcore alongside Rock Tech to play a defining role in the creation of an independent European supply chain of critical metals.”
Vladimir Rudic, Managing Director of Arcore Doo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, adds: “The Lopare project, thanks to our collaboration and association with Rock Tech, and their cutting-edge technological innovations, will be the standard bearer of new trends in the development of sustainable mining in this traditional mining region.”
Formation of NewCo
Rock Tech and Arcore will establish a new European entity (NewCo). Upon Closing, it is intended that (i) Rock Tech will contribute the shares of its wholly owned subsidiary Rock Tech Guben GmbH to NewCo and will hold shares in NewCo representing 75% of NewCo’s registered share capital, and that (ii) ARCORE will contribute the shares of its wholly owned subsidiary AR CORE d.o.o to NewCo and hold shares representing 25% of NewCo’s registered share capital.
The core assets of NewCo will include Rock Tech’s fully permitted Lithium converter in Guben, Germany, and Arcore’s lithium-boron-magnesium mining project in Lopare, Bosnia-Herzegovina. It is envisioned that the Lopare project will deliver Lithium Sulphate feedstock (produced at site) to the Guben Converter from 2030 onwards; in addition to the already secured spodumene supply from contracted partners. Utilizing Lithium Sulphate as future feedstock is a key step in establishing a circular Lithium economy and reducing production costs significantly. This approach aligns with Rock Tech’s recycling flowsheet, for which Lithium Sulphate from black mass recycling is used and subsequently refined into battery-grade Lithium hydroxide at Rock Tech’s converters. By processing Lithium raw material to Lithium Sulphate at-site in Lopare an important value-adding step will remain in-country.
As leading partner of the NewCo, Rock Tech will engage closely with the local communities as part of the permitting process, leveraging its expertise gained from developing its Georgia Lake lithium project in Canada. The Arcore deposit will be developed in cooperation with local stakeholders and in compliance with the strictest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. The company plans to obtain certification under the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) standard.
