Italian labor unions said that the Swiss mining corporation Glencore (GLEN.L) has decided not to construct an electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling factory on the Italian island of Sardinia, citing delays in the authorization procedure.
With Canada’s Li-Cycle (LICY.N), Glencore said it would develop the site in May. The plant would create lithium and other elements from the shredded material called “black mass” that is removed from old vehicle batteries.
Due to the lack of specific timelines for the regional government of Sardinia’s environmental impact assessment process, the CGIL, CISL, and UIL labor unions announced on Wednesday that the two corporations have decided to establish the hub elsewhere.
Glencore did not respond to requests for comment right away. A request for a response from Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso’s representative was also unanswered.
Il Sole 24 Ore, a business newspaper, said on Thursday that the battery recycling facility would probably be constructed in Germany instead. Still, other possible destinations included Spain, Canada, and the United States.
According to Reuters last month, Sardinia’s regional authority found that Glencore’s environmental impact assessment protocol documentation was inadequate.
Glencore also stated in October that it would consider other possibilities for the hub following the Sardinian regional government’s rejection of an expedited licensing procedure for its pilot project.
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