The 13th Battery Summit in Tokyo, organized by IRuniverse, was held at Bellesalle Onarimon Tower from March 17 to 18.The “Recycling Session,” held on the afternoon of the second day, featured presentations from companies based in Korea, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland on their respective battery recycling strategies.
Part I of this report examined the initiatives of companies from Korea and Germany. This report (Part 2) focuses on the strategies of companies from Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, as well as the panel discussion conducted in the latter half of the session.
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The 13th Tokyo Battery Summit: Recycling Session (Part 1) — Korean and German Companies
4. CirCoLi Paolo Guida : The Li-ion Battery Recycling Startup CirCoLi
The fourth speaker of the session was Dr. Paolo Guida, Chief Technology Officer of CirCoLi. The company, based at the KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) in Saudi Arabia, is a startup focused on the development of proprietary recycling technologies for recovering high-value materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
The target market was defined as the rapidly expanding volume of end-of-life (EOL) batteries expected in the early 2030s. This trend was positioned as an opportunity to restructure and diversify resource supply chains.
The core business model is centered on the recovery of lithium products and battery-grade nickel, cobalt, and manganese sulfates from black mass, with further integration into precursor cathode active material (pCAM) and cathode active material (CAM) production. Conventional hydrometallurgical processes were characterized by multi-step operations, high energy consumption, and increased capital expenditure associated with solvent extraction. In contrast, the company’s technology minimizes impurity dissolution, thereby simplifying process flows and significantly reducing both capital and operating costs. The elimination of solvent extraction enables a direct pathway from black mass to pCAM, reducing process steps, lowering waste generation, and shortening cycle times.
The technology was described as achieving higher yields and improved purity under conditions of reduced chemical usage and lower environmental impact. It was also presented as adaptable to all major battery chemistries, including LFP, in response to ongoing market shifts from NMC to LFP. In particular, LFP recycling was identified as an emerging area of value creation, given the limited availability of effective recycling methods.
On the demonstration side, a pilot facility with an annual capacity of approximately 10–100 tons has been established at KAUST to validate the process and support scale-up. The system adopts a compact and modular design, enabling a reduced facility footprint and scalable capacity expansion through the installation of multiple units. Future plans include the development of pre-treatment packages, the design and operation of large-scale reactors, and the commissioning of the first commercial plant. In addition, the introduction of AI-based adaptive control systems for feedstock composition, the establishment of global partnerships, and expansion into key regions were presented as part of the company’s growth strategy. The long-term objective was defined as establishing a position as a strategic supplier of cathode active materials.
5. Sulzer, Ken Kondo :Advanced solution for battery recycling
The final speaker of the session was Mr. Ken Kondo, Japan Country Manager of Sulzer, a company headquartered in Switzerland. Founded approximately 190 years ago, the company has a long history in industrial engineering, including the commercialization of diesel engines, and currently operates globally with a focus on chemical process technologies.
Sulzer’s role in battery recycling was defined not in the generation or collection of black mass, but in the extraction of valuable metals. The company provides core equipment for extraction processes to battery manufacturers and recycling operators, thereby creating value within the processing stage of the recycling chain.
A key feature of the company’s technology is its proprietary extraction equipment, which significantly reduces the number of units required compared to conventional mixer-settler systems. Multiple separation stages can be integrated into a single unit, replacing processes that previously required 10 to 20 parallel units. This enables simplification of plant design and reduction of control complexity.
The technology was reported to reduce solvent consumption by approximately 60% and facility footprint by approximately 70%, directly contributing to lower capital and operating costs. At the same time, high separation efficiency and recovery rates are maintained while reducing energy consumption and chemical usage, enabling both economic and environmental performance. The technology has already been implemented in multiple projects, and collaboration with government agencies and research institutions is ongoing.
Panel Discussion
Following the session, a panel discussion was conducted with the participation of five speakers. The primary focus of the discussion was the cost structure of battery recycling and the evolution of value within the recycling process.
The value of recycling was defined as being primarily derived from the recovery of valuable metals contained in black mass. In addition to mechanical separation, selective separation technologies were identified as key to maximizing value. Market conditions were also discussed, with regional differences in black mass pricing noted at approximately USD 10/kg in China and USD 15/kg in Korea. A benchmark level of USD 10/kg was referenced as an indicator for cost competitiveness.
Collaboration with automotive manufacturers was identified as an important factor, particularly in securing feedstock and establishing recycling systems, with partnerships with certain OEMs already underway. At the same time, the diversity of battery chemistries and specifications was identified as a factor increasing process complexity, highlighting the importance of material standardization and sorting. Impurity reduction and quality control were identified as key determinants of final product value, with process robustness recognized as essential.
Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of achieving both cost competitiveness and product quality, as well as the role of regulatory frameworks and industrial collaboration in supporting future development.
Mr. Tanamachi, Chief Executive Officer of IRuniverse, raised questions regarding the business environment in Saudi Arabia. The inquiry addressed concerns over the potential impact of geopolitical instability in the Middle East, the outlook for EV demand in an oil-producing country, and whether vehicles in circulation would be domestically produced or imported.
In response, Dr. Paolo Guida, Chief Technology Officer of CirCoLi, outlined that state-led industrial programs are actively progressing in Saudi Arabia. He referred to resource development initiatives led by the mining company Ma’aden, as well as ongoing collaboration with related industries. In the EV sector, he cited activities by Lucid Motors, supported by public investment funds, as an example of ongoing developments, including local demonstration projects and initiatives.
Dr. Guida noted that, although the EV market in Saudi Arabia remains at an early stage, the development of an integrated industrial base encompassing resource extraction, electrified mobility, and recycling is advancing. He indicated that the market presents medium- to long-term growth potential.
Mr. Tanamachi further raised a question regarding changes in cost structures associated with market expansion. In response, Dr. Guida explained that cost structures differ between the early adoption phase and the expansion phase. While there remains potential for cost reductions through measures such as reduced chemical usage, he emphasized that ensuring quality and reliability remains critical, and that competitiveness cannot be evaluated solely on price.
Overall, the Saudi market was characterized as having inherent uncertainties, while also presenting the potential to develop into a strategically important region in the future.
(IRuniverse, Midori Fushimi)
