Rotterdam — Maasvlakte Refining Works
Rotterdam, South Holland facility: hydrometallurgical refinery converting black mass into battery-grade lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese salts. Rated at 30,000 tonnes per annum and operating since 2018.
Annual capacity
30,000 TPA
Operating lines
3
Cities collected
2
In operation since
2018
About the Rotterdam, South Holland facility
The Maasvlakte area of Rotterdam is part of Europe's largest port, with chemical industry, bulk handling and deep-sea, rail and inland-waterway connections. The refining works opened on Europaweg in 2018 to process black mass from across Europe, using the port's infrastructure to receive feed and dispatch finished products efficiently. The works is one of the largest refining sites in the network, and its feed comes from many countries.
With 30,000 TPA of capacity, the works takes black mass by road, rail, barge and sea, and produces battery-grade salts for cathode and cell producers. Its position among established chemical operations supports reagent supply, and its experience with cross-border waste shipments makes it a common destination for black mass from several European countries. Assay results set the basis for settlement.
What arrives at the gate
What sets this site apart
Europe's largest port
Direct access to shipping, rail and inland waterways.
Chemical-cluster setting
Located among established chemical operations and reagent suppliers.
Pan-European feed
Receives black mass from across Europe under shipment controls.
What happens to material here
- 1
Feed assay & sampling
Incoming black mass is homogenised and assayed by ICP-OES for Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu, Al and fluoride before it is released to leach.
- 2
Sulphuric acid leaching
Two-stage leach at 60–85 °C with peroxide reductant dissolves cathode metals at 96–99% extraction efficiency.
- 3
Impurity removal
Iron, aluminium and copper are precipitated and filtered; graphite is recovered as a separate low-ash cake.
- 4
Solvent extraction trains
Sequential Co, Ni and Mn circuits with counter-current mixer-settlers deliver individual metal raffinates.
- 5
Crystallisation & drying
Nickel and cobalt sulphate hexahydrate plus lithium carbonate are crystallised to 99.5%+ battery grade and bagged under nitrogen.
- 6
Batch certification
Every batch ships with a certificate of analysis, mass balance and chain-of-custody record for EPR and IRA reporting.
Where material goes next
| Role | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Grading & Diagnostics | Birmingham — West Midlands Grading Works | 439 km |
| Second-Life BESS Works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 572 km |
| Integrated Recovery Campus | Toronto — Ontario Recovery Campus | 5,979 km |
Local rules
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the Dutch Environmental Management Act · Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, with enforcement by ILT
The works operates under Dutch environmental permits and the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, including recycling efficiency and material recovery targets. Cross-border waste shipments follow the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and, where relevant, Basel Convention procedures.
Before you book into Rotterdam, South Holland
- Only black mass and cathode scrap are accepted.
- Cross-border shipments need prior notification where applicable.
- Bulk bags must be sealed and labelled.
- Sampling at intake determines settlement.
Damaged or defective packs are handled under a separate quarantine protocol — flag them in the form and the team calls you back the same day.
Rotterdam, South Holland site: common questions
Can black mass be shipped to Rotterdam from outside Europe?
Yes, subject to waste shipment rules and the required notifications.
Does Rotterdam accept whole packs?
No. It refines black mass and scrap only.
What are the opening hours at Rotterdam, South Holland?
Monday to Friday 08:00 – 20:00, Saturday 08:00 – 16:00. Sunday: emergency and damaged-pack intake only, by prior booking.
How do I book a collection into Rotterdam, South Holland?
Use the booking button on this page with pack counts, chemistry and condition. The despatch desk confirms a window within one working day and ships UN-approved packaging before collection.