Albemarle Partners with Caterpillar to Advance Sustainable Mining Practices

Albemarle has entered into a strategic partnership with Caterpillar to offer comprehensive solutions aimed at advancing sustainability across the entire battery value chain in the mining industry.

One of the primary objectives of this collaboration is to facilitate Albemarle's ambitious transformation of the Kings Mountain mine, located in North Carolina, USA, into North America's first-ever zero-emissions lithium mine site. To achieve this milestone, Albemarle intends to incorporate Caterpillar's battery-electric trucks into the operations at this site.

The Kings Mountain mine stands out as one of the few known hard rock lithium deposits in the United States. It is anticipated that this site will provide an ample supply of material, equivalent to 50 kilotonnes of lithium carbonate, which is essential for the production of lithium-ion batteries.

Additionally, Albemarle has inked an agreement with Caterpillar to supply lithium produced in North America, which will support Caterpillar's battery manufacturing endeavors.

Eric Norris, President of Energy Storage at Albemarle, emphasized the importance of the partnership in advancing sustainability goals. He stated that at Albemarle, they were committed to building a more resilient world, and they recognized that their partners played a critical role in achieving this impact. He noted that their collaboration with Caterpillar demonstrated their dedication to pioneering innovative solutions. Norris described it as a mutually beneficial scenario where both companies acted as customers and suppliers to each other. He further mentioned that their joint pursuit of innovation had global benefits. In addition to providing infrastructure and materials, Norris highlighted that battery-powered Caterpillar machinery and potential advancements in cell technology had the potential to create new opportunities for sustainable mining in the future.

Furthermore, Albemarle and Caterpillar are exploring opportunities for collaboration in research and development (R&D) related to battery cell technology and recycling techniques. This joint effort underscores their shared commitment to advancing sustainable practices in the mining industry.

Rod Shurman, Senior Vice President of Electrification and Energy Solutions at Caterpillar stressed the significance of their collaboration. He mentioned that Caterpillar was currently in the process of developing lithium-ion batteries and battery-electric products for their global customers who shared the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions, similar to Albemarle. Shurman explained that the agreements they had signed for lithium offtake and potential collaboration in research and development would play a crucial role in advancing their efforts. He also noted that these agreements would contribute to the establishment of a secure, resilient, and sustainable value chain for electrified equipment within Caterpillar's portfolio. Moreover, Shurman highlighted that this collaboration would support Albemarle's journey towards more sustainable operations.

The partnership between Albemarle and Caterpillar signifies a significant step towards achieving sustainability and environmental goals within the mining sector. Their combined expertise and commitment to innovation in battery technology and mining operations hold the potential to drive meaningful change in the industry.