Ex-Fortescue Future Industries finance guru Felicity Gooding has joined net-zero lithium hopeful Vulcan Energy.
Ex-Fortescue Future Industries finance guru Felicity Gooding has joined net-zero lithium hopeful Vulcan Energy as chief financial officer.
The Germany-focused firm, which counts Gina Rinehart among its investors, revealed Ms Gooding’s appointment to the ASX on Monday morning.
Ms Gooding has more than 20 years’ experience in key financial roles and has worked in Australia, Singapore, London and Washington DC.
Vulcan hopes Ms Gooding’s experience will help the firm progress financing of the Zero Carbon lithium project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, where phase one financing is due to be completed mid-year.
“We are delighted with the appointment of Ms Gooding and believe her extensive global CFO experience will be important in Vulcan’s next stage of commercial growth,” Vulcan chief executive Cris Moreno said.
“Ms Gooding has worked across capital markets, debt and equity structures, and brings a wealth of knowledge in the financing of major projects.”
Ms Gooding resigned from Fortescue Future Industries in July 2023 after a long career in the Forrest empire, which included stints at Minderoo Foundation, Tattarang, Poseidon Nickel, the Freedom Fund, Impact Minerals and Zhero BV1.
Vulcan’s former chief financial officer, Robert Ierace, stepped down following Ms Gooding's appointment, however, he will remain with the company until March.
Vulcan’s Rhine Valley project, dubbed the world’s first net-zero lithium development, aims to use geothermal energy to bring lithium-bearing hot brines to the surface, which can be captured both for energy and lithium extraction.
Vulcan has spruiked the project’s attractiveness to the likes of Volkswagen and Renault, which are on the hunt for clean sources of battery materials.
About 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide will be extracted per year during phase one of the project, enough to supply 500,000 electric vehicles.
The Vulcan project’s 10.73-million-tonne potential resource would make it Europe’s largest lithium field.
In December, Vulcan won approval from Germany’s Landau City Council to build its renewable energy and extraction plants.
The company plans to produce its first lithium in an already completed optimisation facility within the first few months of 2024.
