LITHOS project's focus:
EU domestic processing & refining of Li
by expanding and tailoring the existing flowsheet, which was developed for regular-grade spodumene ores, so that
- the cut-off grade for spodumene ores is reduced, resulting in larger Li reserves, while
- allowing the commercialisation of lower-grade pegmatite and RMG deposits.
LITHOS triggers innovations along the value chain – mineral processing, concentrate pre-treatment & hydrometallurgical refining – making it possible to deal with different levels and types of impurities in non-spodumene Li minerals (lepidolite & petalite).
LITHOS project's focus:
EU domestic processing & refining of Li
by expanding and tailoring the existing flowsheet, which was developed for regular-grade spodumene ores, so that
- the cut-off grade for spodumene ores is reduced, resulting in larger Li reserves, while
- allowing the commercialisation of lower-grade pegmatite and RMG deposits.
LITHOS triggers innovations along the value chain – mineral processing, concentrate pre-treatment & hydrometallurgical refining – making it possible to deal with different levels and types of impurities in non-spodumene Li minerals (lepidolite & petalite).
LITHOS' meta-objective:
to unleash Europe’s full Li-hard-rock ore potential so as to become self-sufficient by 2030–35 in terms of made-in-Europe LiOH·H2O.
Furthermore, LITHOS has a responsible mining and refining approach by giving specific attention to closing the water loops in the mineral processing and by reducing the overall CO2 emissions
Li2O
unleashed potential
less
water consumption
Less
CO2 emissions *
* compared to today’s benchmark (production of spodumene concentrate in Australia & refining in China).
LITHOS Consortium
VTT
Coordinator
Finnish Minerals Group
Beneficiary
KU Leuven
Beneficiary
BRGM
Beneficiary
Metso:Outotec
Beneficiary
Keliber
Beneficiry
TUC
Beneficiary
Savannah
Beneficiary
Imerys
Beneficiary
Metso:Outotec
Associated Partner
News
Press Release: Europe’s Lithium Paradox premieres on 17 November
On 17 November 2025, the documentary Europe’s Lithium Paradox will premiere globally on Journeyman Pictures’ YouTube channel, following a successful series of over ten avant-première screenings across Europe and Brazil.
High-level expert panels on lithium sparked by LITHOS’s documentary this summer
The debate on lithium didn’t take a summer break! After several spring events across Europe, the series continued into the summer with the same format: screening of Europe’s Lithium Paradox
So far, 2 awards and 1 nomination for LITHOS co-funded documentary: Europe’s Lithium Paradox!
After receiving the Berlin Kiez Film Festival award we are delighted to share the news that the MY NAME IS CLIMATE Film Festival 2025″ in Birmingham, UK, has now also
From Screen to Society: ‘Europe’s Lithium Paradox’ – Launch, Events, and Swift Recognition with an Award!
LITHOS’s documentary, Europe’s Lithium Paradox offers a compelling exploration of lithium’s crucial role in Europe’s mission to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Simultaneously, the documentary seeks to de-escalate the increasingly polarised
Joint Press Release: New documentary “Europe’s Lithium Paradox”
This 56-minute author’s documentary film delivers a compelling exploration of lithium’s crucial role in Europe’s mission to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent. It is a collaborative production between the
LITHOS Press release!
VTT (LITHOS Coordinator) has published a press release on their development of “more efficient lithium recovery – driven by EU’s goal of increasing self-sufficiency in mining operations”. “We are facing
Documentary:
Made in Europe: from mine to electric vehicle
The documentary “Made in Europe: from mine to electric vehicle” investigates the challenges faced by Europe as it attempts to set up its own, fully integrated, mine-to-EV value chain.
The film acts as a wake-up call to avoid that Europe’s decarbonisation strategy leads to a nightmarish de-industrialisation. Instead, the documentary shows that Europe’s transition to climate neutrality can go hand in hand with a cleantech-based re-industrialisation. Made-in-Europe.