Glencore Restarts Construction at Rochester Recycling Plant
The company resumed development of a facility designed to process used batteries into critical materials.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Glencore has restarted construction at the former Li-Cycle battery-recycling plant in Rochester. The company acquired the site through bankruptcy proceedings after previous work was halted.
Why it matters
The plant aims to convert spent batteries into nickel, cobalt, and lithium to help decrease reliance on foreign supply chains. This move follows broader market instability affecting the availability of essential minerals.
Glencore resolved $7 million in unpaid contractor liens to resume work. China currently dominates the market, acting as the lead refiner for 19 of 20 strategic minerals with an average global market share near 70 percent.
The players
Glencore
A multinational commodity trading and mining company headquartered in Switzerland.
Li-Cycle
A lithium-ion battery resource recovery company that previously operated the Rochester site.
The details
By taking control of the Rochester location, Glencore now holds an agreement to purchase all the nickel-cobalt output generated by the facility. The site was previously abandoned by Li-Cycle in 2023, leaving local debts and incomplete infrastructure in its wake.
Timeline
2023: Li-Cycle halted work on the Rochester battery-recycling plant.
December 2024: China began denying export licenses for gallium and germanium.
February 2025: Congo banned cobalt exports.
February 18, 2025: A tailings dam released waste into the Kafue River in Zambia.
November 10, 2026: Rare-earth export control rules are scheduled for potential expiration.
Market Landscape
The Rochester project is a direct response to global supply chain vulnerabilities where China holds a near 70 percent market share in mineral refining. This move aims to secure domestic sourcing for critical minerals in an increasingly restrictive geopolitical environment.
Residents in the area may see a restart of industrial activity and potential job creation at the former Li-Cycle site. Increased domestic processing of batteries could eventually lead to more stable local supply chains for high-tech manufacturing.
The takeaway
The successful revival of this facility depends on navigating volatile mineral prices and complex international export bans. Ensuring stable sourcing for components like cobalt remains a primary challenge for long-term domestic energy infrastructure.
Further reading
For more on local industrial developments, visit the Rochester Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rochester Business Journal.
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