BASF launches Europe’s largest Black Mass battery recycling plant, processing 15,000 tons annually
June 16, 2025
BASF has officially commenced commercial operations at its Black Mass recycling plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. This facility represents a significant milestone for BASF’s battery recycling business. The facility reportedly ranks among Europe’s largest commercial Black Mass plants, with an annual capacity to process up to 15,000 tons of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and production scrap. This volume equates to approximately 40,000 electric vehicle battery packs annually.
The successful start of the commercial operation of this plant, therefore, marks an important step for the European battery industry. Battery recycling plays a vital role in reducing dependence on primary raw materials and supporting the EU’s circular economy objectives. Black mass production is a key step in the battery recycling process and is based on mechanical treatment of the batteries. It contains high concentrations of valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, which are essential for producing cathode active materials (CAM). These metals can be chemically recovered and used in new CAM production, closing the material loop and significantly lowering the carbon footprint compared to using only primary raw materials.
“Our new Black Mass plant is another proof for our commitment to the Battery Materials and Recycling industry, which remains to be one of the most significant growth opportunities in the chemical industry and for BASF Battery Materials. It will become a cornerstone of our offerings to our customers to increase raw materials self-sufficiency and comply with the EU Battery Regulation,” said Dr Daniel Schönfelder, President of BASF’s Battery Materials division. “With the new Black Mass plant, we strengthen our position as the preferred battery recycling partner for customers along the entire battery recycling value chain in Europe.”
BASF’s offering in Europe covers all steps along the battery recycling value chain, from collecting end-of-life batteries and production scrap, discharging and dismantling, as well as Black Mass production and refining – leveraging a strong and reliable partner network in addition to BASF’s own Black Mass production facility. In addition to the new Black Mass production, BASF also operates in Schwarzheide Europe’s first fully automated CAM production line, a prototype metal refinery for battery recycling, and one of the continent’s largest Black Mass storage sites.
