The forgotten battery raw materials: Iron ore – electromobility on toxic sludge avalanches

Iron is an important raw material in battery production. It is installed in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in the cathode and is necessary for the production of steel from which battery housings are made. Due to the expansion of electromobility, the demand for iron will increase sharply. At the same time, there have been several recent human rights violations and environmental disasters in iron ore mining. German companies, such as TÜV SÜD in the case of the dam failure of a mine in Brumadinho, Brazil, are repeatedly involved in disasters such as these.

In the publication "Iron Ore Electro-Mobility on Toxic Sludge Avalanches", we use visualizations, statistics and quotations to show why the raw material urgently needs to be included in the amended Battery Ordinance. This project was funded by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. Funding is provided by decision of the German Bundestag.