Costa Rica Pack Lithium Battery Factory

Who recycles used batteries in Costa Rica?

Fortech is a Costa Rican company that recycles used batteries. Their customers include German firms. GIZ helped them realise their vision. To make the battery for a new electric car, about 6 kilos of lithium and another 11 of cobalt are needed, as well as 30 kilos of nickel and 10 of manganese.

How many used batteries are processed in Costa Rica in 2024?

In 2024 the Costa Ricans processed 100 tonnes of used batteries producing black mass. This year, for the first time, they aim to operate at full capacity and process 1,000 tonnes. The GIZ project in Costa Rica has now ended.

Is Costa Rica a leader in the extraction of lithium?

Costa Rica, a country where open pit mining is banned, has become a leader in the extraction of heavy metals such as lithium -- not from the Earth, but old batteries.

Where can we recycle used lithium-ion batteries?

In Costa Rica, a local company called Fortech has been extracting minerals from used lithium-ion batteries since 2023. It is the first recycling plant of its sort in Central America. In 2018 Fortech won a call for ideas staged by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

How many tons of lithium batteries can a battery collection system process?

The system has been operating since December 2022, with the capacity to process about 1,000 tons of lithium batteries per year. In November 2022, the Pilot Plan for a permanent collection system for exhausted lithium batteries was launched as a result of a partnership between FORTECH and GIZ.

Where do lithium batteries come from?

Lithium batteries are found in cell phones, laptops, and other rechargeable electrical devices, as well as in cars, scooters, bicycles, and other increasingly popular means of electric transportation. FORTECH has processed about 150 tons to date.