Vulcan Energy Kicks Off VULSORB Output to Anchor a China-Free Lithium Supply Chain
Published on 09/21/2026 at 07:21 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Vulcan Energy has begun commercial manufacturing of VULSORB, its in-house adsorbent, in Germany — a step that gives the company a proprietary technical footing for extracting lithium directly from thermal brine in the Upper Rhine Valley. The material, produced on an aluminate base, selectively pulls lithium ions out of geothermal brine and is destined for the extraction columns at the flagship Lionheart project.
Industrial-scale trials preceded the launch, and under real-world conditions the process reached a lithium extraction efficiency of up to 95%, according to the company.
The timing is no accident. China imposed export controls on adsorption and extraction technologies in the A-DLE segment in early 2025, and VULSORB is being positioned as one of the few alternatives resting entirely on Western intellectual property. That framing matters to Vulcan's pitch: the company is presenting itself as one of a small group of Western players with a deployment-ready technology for this stage of the extraction chain.
First Fill Volumes Spread Over Two Years
Output for the initial charge of the extraction columns will be stretched across the next 18 to 24 months, with a local contract manufacturer handling production. Those volumes are earmarked for Lionheart, which remains on track for commissioning in the second half of 2028. Management views the adsorbent milestone as a prerequisite for shoring up the bankability of the project's industrial extraction stages.
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The manufacturing launch slots into a broader run of operational news. Roughly two weeks ago, Vulcan secured the Ilka production licence in the Upper Rhine Valley, a permit intended to be linked with the existing LiThermEx site to support an operating life of at least 30 years. Since that announcement, the shares have shed 8.5%.
A boardroom reshuffle followed about a week later and coincided with a further 4.3% decline. Long-serving head Francis Wedin moved into a pure founder role, while Angus Barker took over as chairman of the supervisory board.
Longer-term scaling in the region is also under review. A preliminary feasibility study for the follow-on Ludwig project envisages a later capacity expansion, with those plans building on the process experience gained in the first phase.
Market Still Waiting for Proof
Equity investors have yet to warm to the operational progress. Vulcan Energy closed Friday's session at EUR 1.38, leaving the stock just above its 52-week low of EUR 1.35. Year to date, the shares are down 46%.
What the start of VULSORB production does deliver is evidence that key components of the extraction chain can be sourced without relying on Asian technology exports. Whether that self-sufficient technical base durably steadies investor confidence now hinges on the smooth delivery of the first fill volumes.
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