Investment Surge In Hydrometallurgy: A Growing Trend in Sustainable Resource Extraction

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Hydrometallurgy, a process that uses aqueous solutions to extract and recover metals from ores, concentrates and recycled materials, is gaining traction due to its environmental and economic advantages. It is effective in recycling rare earth elements and other critical materials that are essential for global energy transition. With increase in demand for metals like nickel, cobalt and lithium, especially from the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable-energy sectors, hydrometallurgy is emerging as a key process in addressing these needs sustainably.

When compared with alternative methods (like pyrometallurgy and electrometallurgy), hydrometallurgy involves lower energy consumption, has fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and has a smaller environmental impact. It also promotes a circular economy for minerals such as lithium, aluminum and manganese by enabling their recovery from electronic and industrial waste, thereby reducing reliance on virgin materials.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that electric vehicles could dominate two-thirds of global car sales by 2035. Owing to a rise in EV sales and concurrent need for recycling batteries, hydrometallurgy is poised to become a valuable process. It also is used widely for extracting copper, a key material in EVs, about 20% of which is produced through hydrometallurgy globally.

Industrial Info is tracking 191 active capital-spending projects globally, worth more than US$38 billion, geared toward extracting ores from metals through the hydrometallurgical process. About 56% of this spending is toward grassroot developments.

The countries that account for most of the investments are the U.S. (almost US$7 billion), Canada (more than US$6 billion) and Indonesia (almost US$4 billion). Some of the other countries with potential spending include Australia, Philippines, China, Russia and Vietnam.

One of the largest projects in the U.S. is a grassroot development by Redwood Materials Incorporated (Carson City, Nevada) geared at lithium-ion battery recycling. The project is in its engineering phase and is scheduled to reach fruition by December 2025. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project and Plant databases can learn more from a detailed project report and plant profile.

Subscribers can click here for a full list of detailed project reports for hydrometallurgical-related projects worldwide.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).