The company Tees Valley Lithium has received full planning permission from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to construct the UK’s first major lithium hydroxide refinery for use in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles.

The factory will be at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in the Teesside Freeport.

The refinery will be capable of producing both lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate sourced from imported high grade feedstock from South America and lithium producers located in Australia and elsewhere.

The owners note that building a European lithium processing facility will reduce the regional dependence on China, which currently controls 90% of the world’s lithium refining capacity.

The company’s owners, Alkemy, says the key driver for TVL’s site selection at the Wilton International Chemicals Park is the ‘plug & play’ advantages of the site, which boasts a plethora of existing infrastructure and readily accessible utilities including water, gas, steam and electricity. This, in turn, will allow TVL to begin construction without delay.

struck a deal with investors to stave off collapse until it can sign concrete deals with buyers.

(Picture – Gov.uk)