POSCO (KRX:005490) has signed a strategic framework agreement with China's Ningbo Ronbay New Energy (SHA:688005) to cooperate across the entire secondary battery value chain, including lithium supply and waste battery recycling.
The deal covers battery-grade lithium from POSCO's Australian ore operations, Argentine brine projects, and recycled lithium extracted from waste batteries through its subsidiary POSCO HY Clean Metal, according to a statement on Wednesday.
The two companies aim to complete quality certification for battery-grade lithium hydroxide from POSCO's domestic production facility by the fourth quarter of this year to enable mass production and supply.
They also plan to strengthen resource circulation cooperation by building a closed-loop system for global waste battery recovery and recycling, building on an existing partnership in nickel, cobalt, and manganese supply.