Draslovka Partners with Natron Energy to Advance Sodium-Ion Battery Production
Introduction to the Partnership
Draslovka a.s., a global leader in sustainability-driven technologies, reagents, and services for the mining and energy transition sectors, has entered into a strategic partnership with Natron Energy, Inc., a prominent U.S.-based manufacturer of sodium-ion batteries. This collaboration aims to develop, commercialize, and scale the production of high-quality Prussian blue materials, which are essential for Natron’s cutting-edge sodium-ion battery technologies. The partnership marks a significant step in advancing energy storage solutions and addressing global battery supply chain challenges.
A Global Collaborative Effort
The partnership agreement between Draslovka and Natron Energy outlines a comprehensive cooperation plan that capitalizes on Draslovka’s expertise in research, production, and logistics. Both companies will work together to deliver high-quality Prussian blue materials for Natron’s sodium-ion batteries. These materials are crucial for Natron’s battery design, particularly for short-term energy storage applications such as data centers, which require efficient and reliable energy solutions.
Draslovka’s world-class chemical plant in Kolin, Czech Republic, will play a pivotal role in the partnership, providing the necessary infrastructure and resources to begin the production process. The company has already secured the required permits and is moving forward with plans to design and construct a reference production facility dedicated to this project. This facility will not only serve as a blueprint for future production efforts in the U.S. but will also be key in helping Natron meet the growing demand for sodium-ion batteries globally.
Building a New Facility for Large-Scale Production
Draslovka’s new reference production facility in Kolin, set to begin operations in 2026, will focus on producing Prussian blue materials for Natron Energy. This collaboration is expected to double Natron’s battery manufacturing capacity, enabling the company to scale its production to meet the increasing demand for sodium-ion batteries. The construction of the Kolin facility marks another key milestone in Draslovka’s business strategy, which focuses on adding value through proprietary technologies and high-quality product offerings.
In addition to the Kolin facility, Draslovka is already exploring options to establish production capabilities in the United States. This expansion would allow the company to further capitalize on its technological expertise and meet the growing demand for sodium-ion batteries in the U.S. market. The development of a large-scale facility in the U.S. is expected to begin before the completion of the Kolin reference facility, positioning Draslovka and Natron to jointly lead the charge in advancing battery technology across both regions.
Sustainable Solutions for Energy Storage
One of the core goals of the Draslovka-Natron partnership is to use sustainable solutions to address the critical raw material shortages that have long plagued the battery industry. Draslovka’s chemistry and production capabilities are designed to minimize reliance on critical minerals sourced from high-risk or politically unstable regions. By utilizing Prussian blue materials, which are a key component in sodium-ion batteries, Draslovka is helping create a more sustainable and secure supply chain for energy storage technologies.
This collaboration is a direct response to the growing need for energy storage solutions that can power applications such as data centers, which play an increasingly critical role in the digital economy. As businesses and industries continue to shift towards digital transformation, the demand for reliable and sustainable energy storage solutions has never been higher. The sodium-ion battery technology developed by Natron, combined with Draslovka’s expertise in material production, will help meet this demand while also advancing the global transition to sustainable energy.
Comments from Draslovka Leadership
Pavel Bruzek, CEO of Draslovka, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are excited to partner with Natron on this project which aims to promote greater standards for sustainability and help pioneer sodium-ion batteries as a real, economically viable option for energy storage, especially short-term energy reserves and data centers. This commercial agreement is an endorsement of Draslovka’s chemical expertise, which makes this project possible. This partnership is another step in the transformation of our revenue streams towards value-added proprietary technologies and sustainable solutions for global industry.”
Bruzek also highlighted Draslovka’s forward-looking strategy, which includes the possibility of expanding its operations in the U.S. “While today we are announcing a new plant at our EU location, we are already considering concrete options to build capability in the U.S. Additionally, we are evaluating opportunities for new production plants elsewhere in the U.S. to fully capitalize on the home-grown technological expertise we have at our flagship plant and as further demand for sodium-ion batteries is unlocked.”
Vision for a Sustainable Future
Martin Viecha, a Draslovka Advisory Board Member and former Vice President of Investor Relations at Tesla, shared his insights on the global energy transition. He emphasized the critical need for alternative energy storage technologies such as sodium-ion batteries. “I believe a full transition to sustainable energy is both critical and irreversible. This shift will necessitate a global increase in battery production by more than tenfold, potentially much more, as worldwide energy demands continue to rise. For such a dramatic change, lithium-ion batteries should not remain the sole option; sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a valid alternative for specific applications. Draslovka’s expertise and experience align perfectly with the future development of sodium-ion batteries.”
Natron’s Role in the Partnership
Wendell Brooks, CEO of Natron Energy, expressed excitement about the partnership, commenting, “We are pleased to be joining forces with Draslovka on this exciting venture in order to pursue our shared interest of developing sustainable and safe technologies that outperform current solutions. The battery industry is growing rapidly, and we are scaling our solutions as sodium-ion offers many advantages relative to lithium-ion technology for a wide range of customer use-cases, including data centers to support the explosive growth of AI. As we benefit from increasing market demand, we look forward to pioneering our technology with the support of Draslovka’s unique and specialized expertise.”
Conclusion: A Long-Term, Global Partnership
This partnership between Draslovka and Natron Energy marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at driving innovation and scaling the production of sodium-ion batteries. With a focus on sustainability and the advancement of energy storage technologies, this collaboration will not only enhance the battery supply chain but also contribute to a more sustainable and secure energy future. The partnership is poised to make a significant impact on the growing demand for energy storage solutions, particularly for data centers and short-term energy reserves, and will help accelerate the global transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.
About Draslovka
Draslovka a.s. is a chemical technologies, products and services company creating value and improving sustainability in several industries, including mining, agriculture and manufacturing. Today, Draslovka is best known as one of the world’s largest producers of sodium cyanide, a chemical vital for gold mining however its most important contribution to the sector is its Glycine Leaching Technology (‘GLT’), the company’s proprietary technology that leaches metals (including gold, copper, nickel and cobalt) in a more sustainable and economic manner. Draslovka also manufactures other specialist chemicals and reagents and provides class-leading chemical application services to the mining and pest control industries as well as AI-enabled support services.
About Natron
Natron Energy manufactures sodium-ion battery products based on a unique and patented Prussian blue electrode chemistry for a wide variety of industrial power applications ranging from critical backup power systems for AI data centres to EV fast charging and system hybridization. Natron’s mission is to transform critical power, industrial, and grid energy storage markets by providing customers with batteries that offer higher power density, faster recharge, and a significantly longer cycle life than incumbent technologies. Natron’s safe, sustainable products are UL 1973 listed, are not susceptible to thermal runaway, and do not use conflict minerals. Learn more about Natron and its sodium-ion technology at Natron.energy.
