en.Wedoany.com Reported - Amanda Lacaze, who stepped down from Lynas Rare Earths earlier this year, has joined Vulcan Energy as a non-executive director. Vulcan Energy said the move will help advance the critical minerals supply chain for its Lionheart lithium project in Germany.
Vulcan Energy's Executive Chairman Francis Wedin said in a statement that Lacaze brings extensive experience and a strong track record in building Western critical raw material supply chains, which will prove valuable as the company advances its Lionheart lithium project in the Upper Rhine Valley of Germany. The project is positioned as a critical minerals and energy initiative targeting the European market.
The Lionheart project plans to establish Europe's first integrated low-carbon lithium supply chain, providing battery-grade critical mineral supply to meet the continent's growing demand. The project has secured approximately €204 million (about US$332.4 million) in public grants and €150 million (about US$244.5 million) in equity financing. The project encompasses the full supply chain from extraction to refining, with all related operations located within 100 kilometers of the project site, and its core process employs direct lithium extraction technology powered by proprietary geothermal energy.
Lacaze has a long-standing career in the mining sector, having led Lynas Rare Earths for 12 years, transforming it from an emerging rare earth producer into a globally significant supplier. She currently also serves as Chair of the Minerals Council of Australia and is a member of Chief Executive Women.
Lacaze said that after leaving Lynas, she considered several board positions but ultimately chose Vulcan Energy because of its industry-leading technological approach, which, once completed, is expected to deliver the world's first low-cost, integrated lithium and geothermal energy production from a single source. She expressed anticipation about joining the board as the Lionheart lithium project advances from the construction phase toward first commercial production.
