LG Energy Solution has announced the establishment of a joint venture with Derichebourg, the French leader in metal waste recycling, to build a battery recycling plant in Bruyères-sur-Oise, located in the Val-d’Oise region of northern France.
Construction is set to begin in 2026, with operations scheduled to start in 2027.
The facility will focus on pre-processing activities, including discharging, dismantling, and shredding production scrap and end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with a processing capacity exceeding 20,000 tonnes per year.
The recovered material, known as black mass, will undergo post-processing to extract key battery raw materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which will then be used in LG Energy Solution’s battery production.
According to the announcement, LG will supply battery scrap from its facility in Poland, while Derichebourg will source end-of-life EV batteries collected from France and neighbouring countries. Although the investment amount has not been disclosed, this move is part of LG Energy Solution’s strategy to strengthen its raw material supply chain in Europe.
The initiative also anticipates the upcoming requirements of the EU Battery Regulation, which mandates that, from 2031, new batteries must include a minimum of 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium, and 6% nickel derived from recycled materials.
This development reflects a broader shift in strategy within the LG conglomerate, following the recent closure of its EV charger business unit, and highlights a renewed focus on reinforcing its core battery operations and establishing a circular recycling system.
Derichebourg, operating over 200 collection sites in France and more than 285 globally, plans to deepen its strategic cooperation with LG Energy Solution, expanding activities in the battery recycling sector.
“This collaboration enables us to secure a stable and cost-competitive supply of recycled battery materials,” said Chang Beom Kang, CSO of LG Energy Solution.
Meanwhile, Abderrahmane El Aoufir, CEO of Derichebourg, emphasised the partnership’s contribution to developing high environmental value industrial solutions.
