Lithium Australia lines up recycling expert as CEO

Perth-based battery technology company and recycler Lithium Australia has appointed an experienced executive and recycling expert as its Chief Executive Officer.

Simon Linge will be based in Melbourne, where Lithium Australia’s wholly owned subsidiary Envirostream is located and start work on or before January 1 2023.

Linge was chosen after a global search by headhunters following the retirement of the company’s former Managing Director Adrian Griffin.

Lithium says its new CEO has a global perspective of manufacturing, recycling and the resources industry. His CV includes 25 years of senior management experience within the Bluescope Group including President ASEAN for the Nippon Steel-Bluescope Steel JV in addition to BHP.

Prior to accepting the role at Lithium, Linge was an executive at Pact Group Holdings.

Pact is involved in several areas of packaging and materials handling and aims to be a leader in the circular economy through innovation in packaging, reuse and recycling.

That strategy has parallels with Lithium’s vision, that includes forging an ethical and sustainable future for the global battery industry.

One aim is to tap into the recycling potential for the more than 90 per cent of lithium-ion batteries that end up in landfill in Australia and Envirostream operates a battery recycling facility in Victoria.

Lithium-ion batteries, or “LIB” waste is expected to grow exponentially in Australia in coming years from the actual total of 3,300 tonnes in 2016 to a predicted total of 17,800 tonnes in 2025 and 137,600 tonnes in 2036.

Linge said: “As the world accelerates its transition to electrification, the demand for the materials to not only manufacture batteries but to sustainably recycle batteries will only increase.”

“Lithium Australia is now perfectly positioned to play its part in the battery circular economy.”

The other arm of Lithium’s business centres on next generation lithium-ion batteries including lithium ferro phosphate, or “LFP” through its 100 per cent-owned subsidiary VSPC.

VSPC develops leading-edge materials for e-mobility and energy storage applications towards a zero-carbon economy and Lithium says it is one of the few entities outside of China with the technical expertise to manufacture LFP powder of the highest quality to meet burgeoning market pressures.

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