TVL is delighted to announce that the company has received full planning permission by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to build Europe’s largest lithium hydroxide refinery at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in the Teesside Freeport.

TVL is the first UK lithium refinery to receive full planning approval, and one of the earliest refineries in Europe.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• TVL has been granted full planning permission from Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to establish Europe’s largest – and the UK’s first – world-class lithium hydroxide refinery, located at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in the Teesside Freeport.
• Following a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and local consultation over an eighteen-month period, TVL’s US$300 million zero waste facility is now shovel-ready with production forecasted to commence in 2025, generating over 1,000 local jobs.
• Utilising state-of-the-art electrochemical processing and powered by 100% certified green energy, TVL’s zero waste lithium refinery will be the largest in Europe – producing 96,000 tpa of low-carbon battery-grade lithium hydroxide once in full production – equivalent to 15% of projected European demand.

A 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.

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.

TVL’s processing refinery is expected to produce enough lithium hydroxide to supply 100% of the forecasted automotive demand in the UK by 2030, with a further 35% of its total production available for export to other countries in Europe or elsewhere.

The company is currently in advanced discussions with a number of offtake customers, including European gigafactories and electric vehicle OEMs. 

Sam Quinn, Director of Alkemy commented: 

“We are delighted to have received planning approval which allows us to quickly complete our engineering studies and to get on the ground and commence construction.

The burgeoning demand from electric vehicle OEMs is highlighting the growing need for significant lithium refinery capacity in Europe. Being located in the Wilton International Chemicals Park with direct access to comprehensive infrastructure and services and being within the Teesside Freeport enables us to rapidly get into production and to supply customers in the UK and Europe.”
 

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor commented:

“Tees Valley Lithium is yet another multi-million-pound project, creating good-quality jobs on the Teesside Freeport. With plans now approved this shovel ready project will create 1,000 jobs and should be up and running in just a couple of years.”
 

Frans Caljé, Chief Executive Officer of PD Ports commented:

“It’s absolutely fantastic to see more inward investment coming to the Tees Valley, this time in the form of the Tees Valley Lithium project. PD Ports absolutely welcomes any project that is going to generate real jobs and prosperity for our region and we look forward to seeing the Lithium Hydroxide refinery brought to fruition to aid growing demand as we all work towards a more sustainable future.”

Ryan Hanrahan, Director and CEO of Wave International commented:“This approval is a significant milestone for the combined UK/European green energy industry, with the TVL refinery being the first merchant lithium converter to achieve full approval status in the region. With a secured site, full approvals and a feasibility study TVL are now an advanced project and a leader amongst their peer group.”