The planned Czech factory for batteries for electric cars, the so-called gigafactory, could produce batteries with a capacity of more than 30 gigawatt-hours, which is enough for 400,000 to 800,000 passenger cars per year. It depends on the technology of the manufacturer or producers of tin lithium batteries and the capacity of the final batteries. According to Geomet’s current plan for the lithium mining project, in which the semi-state ČEZ has a majority stake, the extraction and subsequent processing of 34.5 million tons of ore within 21 years of the start of mining, which is planned for 2025.
“So far, we have not identified any major barriers to future mining and post-processing. We are conducting dozens of test wells and working on a final economic and technological feasibility study. This is to clarify the conclusions of the preliminary feasibility study and provide answers to all important questions. how to open the mine and how to mine and how to get lithium from the extracted material, “Peterová said today.
According to her, the final decision should be made in 2023, followed by the construction of the plant with the start of mining in 2025. “In parallel, work on permitting procedures is underway, including the ongoing EIA process (environmental impact assessment). “
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček (for YES) and CEZ CEO Daniel Beneš signed a memorandum on support for the planned gigafactory project in the Czech Republic. According to Havlíček, Volkswagen (VW), which also includes the Czech carmaker Škoda Auto, and the Korean LG are interested. The material available to ČTK shows that the investment should amount to at least 52 billion crowns in the first phase and that at least 2,300 new jobs are expected to be created in connection with it. A favorite for the construction of the so-called gigafactory is the area of the former brown coal power plant Prunéřov 1, which ČEZ shut down last year.
Most of the experts contacted by ČTK agreed that the planned establishment of a battery factory for electric cars in the Czech Republic is almost a necessity for the domestic automotive industry due to market developments and Europe’s move towards low-emission sources. CEZ chief Beneš said on Tuesday that a factory for batteries for electric cars could stand in the Czech Republic between 2026 and 2028 under an optimistic scenario. tax relief.
Jaromír Starý, head of the raw material information system department of the Czech Geological Survey, told ČTK today that 571.5 million tons of ore with 1.14 million tons of lithium are currently registered in the Czech Republic. He stated that in the Czech Republic, compared to the previous three, only about two percent of the world’s lithium sources are present. “Research and resource growth around the world continues,” he explained. In the Czech Republic, a small amount is deposited in the Slavkov Forest and the vast majority in Cínovec. “The subject of mining will be the richest and most accessible parts of the Tínov deposit,” he added.