In a significant stride for Portugal’s battery value chain, five major developments have been announced in the past two weeks, marking a pivotal moment for the country’s role in the global energy transition and electric vehicle (EV) industry.
- CALB Group Co., Ltd., the world’s fourth-largest battery producer, has confirmed the Final Investment Decision (FID) for a battery gigafactory in Sines. The facility, set to begin construction this year, will initially produce 15 GWh and is expected to be operational by 2028.
- Savannah Resources PLC has resumed field work in its concession area in Boticas, advancing plans to start production at Europe’s largest lithium spodumene resource by 2027. The project, which currently employs 50 people (mostly locals), has received strong support from the Portuguese government, emphasizing its strategic importance for the region and Europe.
- Lifthium Energy has identified Estarreja as the preferred location for its lithium refinery, signaling significant progress. The company’s €35 million pilot plant and state-of-the-art R&D lab in Coimbra are nearing completion.
- DST Group, based in Braga, has partnered with CALB to collaborate on battery recycling and storage solutions, further strengthening Portugal’s position in the battery ecosystem.
- Portugal’s Battery Cluster (Battery Cluster Portugal), which includes all the above entities alongside 50 other organizations, has been officially recognized as one of the country’s four key Competitiveness Clusters for the 2024-2030 cycle.
These developments come at a critical time, as the European Commission recently announced an urgent integrated industrial plan for the automotive sector, which is undergoing its largest transformation in over a century. The battery value chain is central to this transition, supporting nearly 15 million high-quality jobs across Europe.
Despite challenges, these milestones highlight Portugal’s growing influence in the global battery market and its commitment to leveraging this opportunity for economic and environmental benefits.
