Beneath the fields of northern Germany lies a newly identified resource that could become the centerpiece of European energy autonomy. In a region known for its decades-old gas infrastructure, researchers have identified vast underground saline aquifers that hold unusually high concentrations of gas. lithium — An increasingly important factor for the world battery supply chain.

The discovery comes amid mounting pressure to secure access to Europe. strategic raw materials. Demand for lithium continues to soar due to the following factors: electric car production, grid-scale energy storage, and portable electronics. The continent’s over-reliance on imports from a small number of foreign suppliers has already been cited as a strategic weakness.

Now, the Saxony-Anhalt site appears to be offering Europe a domestic foothold in a market long dominated by South American salt flats and Chinese refiners. The confirmed size and composition of this resource attracted immediate attention from policy makers, industry observers, and global competitors.

Germany joins the world of lithium with abundant reserves

In the second half of 2025, neptune energy announced that Altmark Lithium Project had been independently assessed by a stock assessor; Sproule ERCE under CIM/NI 43-101 standard. This ruin is located in the Altmark region of eastern Germany. 43 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) — One of the largest known single-site lithium resources in the world.

Neptune currently has one production license (Jeetze-L) and three exploration licenses in the area (Milde AL, BL, and CL). This site previously served as the primary site natural gas field For over 50 years. Extensive geological and operational data from that time is now being used to support the lithium transition.

At the heart of this resource is a deep aquifer located between 3,200 and 4,000 meters below the earth’s surface. geothermal brine It is rich in lithium. Based on geochemical studies published in , the average concentration of lithium is approximately 375 milligrams per liter. 2025 EAGE Annual Conference.

This enrichment is mainly due to the decomposition of lithium-containing materials. mica mineral embedded inside volcaniclastic debris in Rotligent sandstone Formation. These minerals have been leaching lithium into the surrounding groundwater for millions of years at temperatures exceeding 120°C.

Only a small portion of the lithium is thought to come from ancient seawater evaporation. The site’s geological profile is characterized by a consistent enrichment pattern and secondary porosity due to mineral dissolution, supporting the feasibility of long-term production.

Testing new lithium extraction

Neptune has completed two pilot extraction projects using: Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)a closed-loop technology that separates lithium from salt water and reinjects the treated fluid underground. Latest pilot conducted with US-based partners lilac solutionswas used to successfully produce battery-grade lithium carbonate. Ion exchange method. The third pilot will launch in September 2025 and is currently undergoing testing. Adsorption-based approach.

Unlike traditional surface evaporation ponds in South America or hard rock mining in Australia; DLE system You use less water, occupy less space, and reduce your environmental footprint. Although the technology is still being developed on an industrial scale, Altmark’s initial results show promise for scalability in high-temperature, high-pressure environments.

Integrating DLE with Altmark’s conventional gas infrastructure also has the potential to reduce capital costs and environmental impact. co-production of geothermal energy Adding secondary energy output from the same extraction process is being considered.

Europe’s lithium strategy moves from theory to region

Altmark’s approval comes in a broader context. European Critical Materials LawThis regulatory framework aims to reduce strategic dependencies by mandating that by 2030, at least:

• 10% Some key raw materials are extracted domestically within the EU
• 40% Processed within the EU
• 15% sourced through recycling
• no more 65% All strategic raw materials are sourced from a single third country at every stage of processing.

These targets reflect the EU’s long-term goal of ensuring access to the key materials needed for battery production. renewable energy systemand defense technology. Lithium has been specifically designated as a strategic feedstock and projects like Altmark are now considered essential to achieving these benchmarks.

To accelerate development, strategic projects within the EU are subject to expedited licensing, which includes a 24-month timeline for extraction licensing and a 12-month timeline for processing and recycling facilities. Neptune has indicated plans to enter the demonstration phase, subject to further regulatory approvals.

From Bolivia to Germany: Contrasting lithium frontiers

Currently, most of the world’s lithium is extracted from the earth. lithium triangle —High-altitude salt flats spanning Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. These regions are highly dependent on: solar evaporation methodwhich requires up to 500,000 gallons of water per ton of lithium and can take more than a year to complete. The environmental and social impacts of such activities are well documented.

A detailed investigation by Harvard International Review Bolivia outlines growing community tensions over $1.3 billion joint venture between government and German company ACI Systems Alemania It was canceled following protests in Potosi. In Argentina, local indigenous leaders have raised concerns about groundwater contamination and inadequate revenue-sharing agreements with foreign operators.

In contrast, Germany’s Altmark project operates in a former industrial area with a compact environmental footprint. The closed-loop extraction process significantly reduces water usage and avoids surface destruction. If proven at commercial scale, this project could become the next model. Low-impact lithium production In mature energy regions across Europe.