From rock to refinery: Building the future of lithium in Europe
In early November, IDOM participated in Li-ion Battery Europe 2026 (LiBE 2026) in Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading events for the lithium battery value chain. Ignacio Fernández Ochoa, head of the Chemical Plants business line at IDOM, represented the company and moderated the roundtable discussion “Diversifying Feedstock Sources for Local Refineries and Cross-Continental Synergy Frameworks”. This discussion brought together leading voices from different areas of the midstream lithium supply chain.
The discussion included Emanuel Proença, CEO of Savannah Resources; Dr. Axel C. Heitmann, founder and CEO of Prime Lithium; Tobias Wabnitz, SVP of Business Development at Mangrove Lithium; Merve Cruz, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Lithium Sourcing at HELM AG; and Astrid Karamira, EMEA Representative Director of the International Lithium Association (ILiA). Together, they provided insight into the entire lithium value chain, from a European mining project and innovative refining technologies to the perspective of an established producer and the industry on a global scale.
The conversation sent a clear message: building a European lithium refining industry requires optimism and long-term commitment from industry leaders, investors, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and policymakers. The good news is that the foundations are already in place. Europe has real options for securing raw material supplies by combining its own mines, imported concentrates from partner regions, and a rapidly growing recycling stream. Europe also has innovative and flexible refining technologies that, together with established conventional processes, can reduce reagent use, waste generation, and the carbon footprint while processing various raw materials, including recycled materials.
With the necessary raw materials and technology in place, the participants agreed that securing financing is now key to driving the sector forward. Transforming projects into bankable, executable plants depends on access to capital, long-term offtake agreements, and well-defined projects ready for implementation. Collaboration throughout the entire value chain—and across continents—can make a difference here.
IDOM thanks the LiBE 2026 organizers for connecting the industry and creating spaces for these conversations. We also thank the roundtable participants for their valuable contributions, insights, and experience during an open and enriching discussion.
At IDOM, we support our clients throughout the entire battery value chain, from lithium refining and battery materials to recycling. We help them transform their raw material and technology strategies into operational plants.
Europe has the resources, technologies, and talent. Now is the time to build. Let’s look to the future with optimism.
