Key facts
- Sumitomo Metal Mining has opened Japan's first recycling plant for electric vehicle batteries.
- The plant is designed to extract rare metals and ensure a stable domestic supply.
- The facility aims to stem the outflow of limited resources.
- 4R Energy Corporation, a joint venture between Nissan and Sumitomo Corporation, operates the plant.
- The plant is located in Namie, Japan.
Sumitomo Metal Mining has launched Japan's first recycling plant dedicated to electric vehicle (EV) batteries, aiming to recover valuable rare metals and secure a stable domestic supply chain. The initiative seeks to counter the outflow of limited resources and contribute to environmental sustainability.
The plant, located in Namie, Japan, is operated by 4R Energy Corporation, a joint venture established in 2010 by Nissan and Sumitomo Corporation. This venture was initially formed to focus on the effective reuse of electric-car batteries. 4R Energy has developed a system to quickly assess the performance of used batteries, a technology that will be applied at the Namie facility for batteries collected across Japan.
The recycled and refabricated batteries from the plant are intended for use in exchangeable refabricated EV batteries, large-scale storage systems, and electric forklifts. The establishment of this plant is also seen as a catalyst for revitalizing the local economy in Namie, which was devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.