Weardale Lithium wins 'milestone' plant backing

A firm behind plans to help charge the UK’s energy revolution has secured 125-job factory approval.

Weardale Lithium has been granted permission to build a County Durham plant.

Bosses say it will operate as the “UK’s largest lithium extraction facility” and add £1 billion to the North East’s economy.

Planned to produce at least 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate every year, they say it will “make a significant contribution” to net-zero efforts by accelerating production of electric vehicle power packs and battery energy storage systems.

Set for a former cement works site in Eastgate, near Stanhope, Stewart Dickson, Weardale Lithium chief executive, said the venture marks a “significant milestone for the UK’s electrification ambitions”.

He said: “This is a notable step to establishing a robust, long-term and economically viable supply chain of critical minerals.

“The North East is well placed to be a centre of growing domestic lithium production capability, as the region has all the requisite enablers to deliver our borehole to battery strategy. 

“We can now move forward and scale up confidently, producing battery-grade lithium carbonate on site using a proven end-to-end process.”

Stewart added: “We are grateful for the support of Durham County Council and the parish councils and local communities in Weardale, which have overwhelmingly backed our plans.”

Multinational firm KBR was recently appointed to provide technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the factory.

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