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Vulcan Energy (ASX:VUL) begins construction of Sorption-Demo plant in Germany

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ASX:VUL      MCAP $585.0M
13 September 2022 12:50 (AEST)

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Vulcan Energy (VUL) has commenced onsite construction of its Sorption-Demo plant in Landau, Germany as part of its Zero Carbon lithium project in the Upper Rhine Valley.

Sorption-Demo is a significant step-up in plant size from Vulcan’s successful pilot plant which has been operating for 18 months, most recently at the company’s commercial geothermal renewable energy plant, NatürLich Insheim.

Led by the company’s engineering team (VEE), the commencement of construction followed off-site fabrication which has been ongoing since March.

The plant is being built on the Energie Südwest AG (ESW) following the completion of front-end engineering studies, mobilisation and delivery of key components.

Prior to construction of the first commercial plant, the company will train its technical
and operations personnel in the Sorption-Demo plant to develop a comprehensive understanding of the process and its operation.

The company expects the plant to start cold commissioning before the end of the year and start operation in early 2023.

Concurrently, the company’s lithium hydroxide production demo plant also known as “LiLy”, is progressing and is still on track to start commissioning in late Q1 2023.

Also, the company has received its second preliminary environmental impact assessment approval in its Taro license in the “Taro Golf” project area to drill wells for geothermal energy and lithium.

As a result, Vulcan is mobilising 3D seismic survey teams around its Insheim license area this week toward an expanded geothermal and lithium project development after further receiving strong support from eight local councils in the Rhineland-Palatinate state.

Meanwhile on the project, the definitive feasibility study for phase one of the Zero Carbon project is progressing, with an updated pre-feasibility study for phase two targeted for completion at the same time.

While the company said it is working hard to achieve its H2 2022 target, the completion date is likely to be in the first quarter of 2023.

Shares in Vulcan were up 7.17 per cent, trading at $8.52 at 12:46 pm AEST.

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