The Czech Republic will enter negotiations with South Korea on potential cooperation in lithium mining and processing at Cínovec, Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček announced following a meeting in Prague with Korean Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan. One option under consideration is a joint project between Czech company Geomet and Korean firm POSCO, which specializes in lithium processing. According to current plans, lithium extraction could begin in 2030.

Lithium mining at Cínovec is being prepared by Geomet, majority-owned by Severočeské doly, a member of the ČEZ Group, with a 49% stake held by the Australian holding company European Metals Holdings. The project envisages underground mining, with extracted ore transported by conveyor and rail to a processing plant planned for Prunéřov.

A recently published feasibility study confirmed that there are no technological barriers to mining 3.2 million tonnes of ore annually at Cínovec in the Ore Mountains. The project could produce approximately 37,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year—enough for up to 1.3 million electric vehicles. Lithium mining has been designated a strategic project by the European Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act, and the Czech government has classified Cínovec as a strategic deposit of national importance. Although the project has faced public opposition in northern Bohemia, particularly regarding the location of the processing plant, plans have been revised and the facility is now proposed for the former lignite mine site in Prunéřov.

Source: CTK
Prepared by the team of foreign office CzechTrade South Korea (Seoul)