The German-Canadian lithium producer Rock Tech Lithium is reorganising its top management. The company has appointed Mirco Wojnarowicz as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.
Dirk Harbecke, who has served as interim CEO since 2022, will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors and, as Rock Tech’s largest shareholder, will also ensure continuity of leadership and strategic oversight.
“We are delighted that Mirco has accepted our offer to become CEO. He is an
exceptional individual who has already delivered key milestones as VP Business Development over the past 3 years. He is a very inclusive leader with significant global lithium industry experience, a profound understanding of our operations and strategy, as well as the core values of Rock Tech. Mirco is going to be an exceptional CEO and will lead the company into its next phase of growth as a key
player in the European and North American battery materials supply chain,” said Dirk Harbecke.
The company has also appointed Christopher Wright as CFO, while Kerstin Wedemann remains Chief Legal & Corporate Officer. “Together with Chris as our new CFO, whose extensive experience in mining and finance will add significant value to Rock Tech, and Kerstin, with her strong background in legal and corporate matters, who will continue in her leadership role, we have assembled the right team for Rock Tech’s exciting next chapter,” Harbecke continued.
“I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at such an exciting and pivotal time in Rock Tech’s journey,” said Mirco Wojnarowicz, new CEO of Rock Tech Lithium. “We have a clear mission, a strong team, and a strategy focused on execution to deliver high-quality lithium products and build fully functional, local battery supply chains.”
Rock Tech’s goal is to supply the electric vehicle and battery industry with sustainable, locally produced lithium, aiming for a 100 per cent recycling rate. To ensure stable supply chains, the company is planning to build lithium converters on its customers’ doorsteps, starting with the planned lithium hydroxide converter in Guben, Brandenburg. The company plans to produce around 24,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide per year in Guben, enough for the batteries of 500,000 electric cars. By 2030, around 50 per cent of the raw materials will be obtained from the recycling of old batteries.
Mercedes-Benz has already secured an annual supply of 10,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide from Guben. The state of Brandenburg is funding the construction of the plant with up to 100 million euros, while the federal government has cancelled funding. Rock Tech plans to build a second lithium hydroxide converter in Red Rock, Ontario, Canada.
rocktechlithium.com (PDF)
