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Tees Valley Lithium, a subsidiary of Alkemy Capital Investments, has been granted full planning permission from Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to construct a £250m lithium hydroxide refinery on the Wilton Worldwide Chemical compounds Park within the Teesside Freeport.
Development is now prepared to begin, with course of engineer Wave Worldwide appointed as lead contractor.
The refinery will likely be able to producing each lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate sourced from imported excessive grade feedstock from South America and lithium producers in Australia and elsewhere. It’s anticipated to supply 96,000 tonnes a 12 months of battery-grade lithium hydroxide as soon as in full manufacturing – equal to fifteen% of projected European demand.
China at the moment controls 90% of the world’s lithium refining capability however is anticipated to require all of this manufacturing domestically earlier than lengthy to assist its personal web zero ambitions.
Alkemy director Sam Quinn stated: “The complete endorsement from the Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is a crucial step in taking TVL to its subsequent section of growing the UK’s first lithium hydroxide refinery and spearheading a brand-new business in Europe and a significant a part of the fourth industrial revolution.
“This determination permits us to quickly advance with our engineering research forward of building, on account of start in 2023. The burgeoning demand from electrical automobile OEMs highlights the pressing want for vital lithium refinery capability in Europe, which at the moment doesn’t exist.
“Our strategic determination to find within the Wilton Worldwide Chemical compounds Park, with direct entry to complete infrastructure and providers and inside the Teesside Freeport permits us to get into first manufacturing by 2025 and start supplying our low carbon battery-grade lithium to clients spanning the UK and Europe.”
Wave Worldwide chief government Ryan Hanrahan stated: “This approval is a major milestone for the mixed UK/European inexperienced vitality business, with the TVL refinery being the primary service provider lithium converter to attain full approval standing within the area. With a secured web site, full approvals and a feasibility examine TVL at the moment are a sophisticated undertaking and a frontrunner amongst their peer group.”
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