UK-based Neptune Energy has announced the discovery of a massive 43-million-ton lithium deposit beneath Northern Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Experts are calling it one of the largest lithium finds in the world. The discovery, valued at more than $1 trillion, could supply enough lithium to power over 800,000 electric vehicles, putting Germany in the global spotlight for clean energy production.
The deposit lies in the Altmark region, an area that was once famous for natural gas production. The company said the discovery could help Europe move away from its dependence on Chinese suppliers like CATL, which currently provide most of the battery cells used by major automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen.
Neptune Energy CEO Andreas Scheck said, “This discovery will contribute significantly to the German and European supply market for the critical raw material lithium,” he said. “It gives us the opportunity to help shape the future of the European electric vehicle battery industry.”
The discovery followed a detailed study carried out by the international resource valuation firm Sproule ERCE. The agency confirmed that the Altmark region contains about 43 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), placing Germany among the top global lithium holders alongside the United States and South America’s Lithium Triangle.
The Altmark basin, located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, has a 55-year history in natural gas production. The region’s geological formations, known as Rotliegend brines, are highly mineralized and rich in lithium. Neptune Energy and its predecessor companies have worked in the area since 1969, and now they are using that same infrastructure to extract clean energy materials instead of fossil fuels.
According to Neptune’s latest report, the lithium resource is found in brine deep beneath the Earth’s surface. This allows the company to use new extraction technologies without the environmental damage caused by traditional mining. Instead of open-pit mining or evaporation ponds, Neptune plans to use a technique called Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE).
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This process uses advanced ion-exchange and adsorption technology to separate lithium from the brine with minimal land use and water consumption. Neptune Energy is considered one of the cleanest and most efficient ways to extract lithium, making it ideal for a country like Germany that has strict environmental standards.
Neptune Energy has already completed two pilot projects using this DLE method. In partnership with Lilac Solutions, the company successfully extracted battery-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal brine.
A third pilot, using an adsorption-based process, is currently underway. If the tests are successful and government permits are approved, Neptune plans to move forward with a demonstration-scale plant that will combine extraction, processing, and production.
Neptune currently holds several exploration and production licenses in the Altmark region, including Jeetze-L and Milde A-L, B-L, and C-L. This gives the company full control over a large area that could become a supply base for European automakers.
Axel Wenke, Neptune Energy’s new energy director, said, “The area combines geological potential, existing infrastructure, and technical know-how. These are the right conditions to complete the move from natural gas production to environmentally friendly lithium extraction,” he said.
At full capacity, Neptune Energy expects to produce around 25,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent per year by the 2030s. That amount could supply battery material for roughly 500,000 electric vehicles every year. “This is an important step for Europe’s energy independence,” said Andreas Scheck. “We are now moving forward with the next steps to play our part in building a sustainable lithium supply for the European market.”
Lithium is one of the most critical elements for electric vehicle batteries, smartphones, and renewable energy storage. However, most lithium processing and refining currently take place in China, giving Beijing significant control over the global battery market.
Elaine Dezenski, senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), said, “It’s great for Germany. There’s a lot of lithium, but the real question is where does it get processed?” she said.
She explained that even with new technologies like DLE, most of the refining process that turns lithium into a battery-grade material still happens in China. “If the brine must be processed in China, then it’s not really breaking the supply chain,” she said.
