As global demand for nickel surges to meet electric vehicle battery production needs, an innovative ecological solution is blossoming in Albania's unlikely mining landscape. Researchers and entrepreneurs are turning to Odontarrhena chalcidica – a humble plant with extraordinary metal-absorbing capabilities – to revolutionize mineral extraction while healing degraded lands.
Nature's Metal Harvesters
Thriving in Albania's nickel-rich ultramafic soils that cover 11% of the country, these hyperaccumulator plants naturally draw toxic metals through their roots, storing concentrated nickel in their leaves. Through phytomining, farmers harvest and process the biomass to extract pure nickel, creating a closed-loop system that requires minimal energy compared to traditional mining.
Dual Environmental Benefits
Professor Aida Bani of Tirana's Agricultural University, who has researched these plants for over a decade, explains: 'Each harvest cleans the soil while producing valuable metal. We're converting ecological liabilities into agricultural and industrial assets.' The process not only yields battery-grade nickel but gradually detoxifies land for future food crops.
Scaling Green Innovation
Startup MetalPlant is implementing this science at scale across seven hectares in Tropoja. By combining phytomining with enhanced rock weathering – spreading crushed olivine to boost nickel uptake and capture atmospheric CO₂ – they aim to create the world's first carbon-negative nickel production system.
This botanical approach could position Albania as a pioneer in sustainable mineral production, offering a template for balancing industrial needs with environmental restoration in the global race to decarbonize transportation.
