Vulcan Energy Strengthens Key Alliance with Board Appointment

Vulcan Energy appoints HOCHTIEF's Roberto Gallardo to its board, solidifying their partnership for the Lionheart lithium project as construction advances in Germany.

The strategic partnership between Vulcan Energy and its primary construction partner has entered a new phase. The lithium developer has solidified its relationship with major shareholder HOCHTIEF through a key management appointment, bringing the infrastructure group's expertise closer to Vulcan's core decision-making processes.

HOCHTIEF Executive Joins Vulcan Board

Effective immediately, Roberto Gallardo, the Chief Strategy Officer of HOCHTIEF, has joined Vulcan Energy's Board of Directors. This move directly results from the capital measures finalized late last year. In December 2025, HOCHTIEF invested €130 million into Vulcan's Lionheart lithium project, acquiring a 15.41 percent equity stake. The investment agreement included a contractual right for HOCHTIEF to nominate a representative to the board.

Gallardo's appointment underscores the deepening operational integration between the two companies. HOCHTIEF and its subsidiary Sedgman are already serving as the principal contractors for the Lionheart initiative. With three decades of international experience in major construction projects, Gallardo's engineering background will now be applied at the strategic helm.

Construction Advances Amid Market Scrutiny

On-the-ground progress continues at the Landau site in Rhineland-Palatinate, where construction for the first phase is now proceeding at pace following the receipt of all critical permits. The market is closely monitoring Vulcan's execution, particularly as its shares remain under pressure, having declined nearly 22 percent since the start of the year. The equity closed at €2.04 this past Friday.

To maintain its ambitious timeline for commercial production of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually from 2028, Vulcan is planning to mobilize a second drilling rig in the second half of 2026. Investors can expect fresh details on construction progress and forward planning in the coming weeks. The company's next quarterly report is scheduled for April 29, 2026, followed by its Annual General Meeting on May 28.