MINEX Forum

Tag: Weardale Lithium

  • Weardale Lithium Gets Green Light for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Plant

    Weardale Lithium Gets Green Light for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Plant

    Weardale Lithium has secured planning approval to build the UK’s largest lithium extraction facility in the North East, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s domestic supply of critical minerals. The Durham County Council unanimously approved the project, paving the way for a demonstration plant that integrates direct lithium extraction (DLE) with carbonization to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

    The project, backed by London-based Marechale Capital, will be developed at a former cement works site in Eastgate, a brownfield area well-suited for redevelopment. The facility aims to produce at least 10,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually once scaled to commercial production.

    CEO Stewart Dickson called the approval a “significant milestone” for both Weardale Lithium and the UK’s electrification ambitions, aligning with the government’s critical minerals and battery strategy. “The North East has all the requisite enablers to deliver our borehole-to-battery strategy,” he added.

    DLE, a low-impact and low-carbon method of lithium extraction, will be powered by renewable energy where possible. Weardale Lithium has contracted KBR (NYSE: KBR) to provide technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the demonstration plant.

    The project represents a multi-million-pound investment in the local economy. Initially, it will create 20 to 50 jobs, with an estimated 125 positions during full commercial operations. The company predicts the facility will contribute approximately £1 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the North East region.

  • Planning Permission Granted for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Facility

    Planning Permission Granted for UK’s Largest Lithium Extraction Facility

    Weardale Lithium, a groundbreaking natural resources development company situated in County Durham, has received unanimous planning permission from Durham County Council to establish the UK’s most extensive lithium extraction facility. The facility is set to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal groundwaters and aims to scale up to a commercial production target of minimum 10,000 tonnes per annum.

    Located at the former cement works in Eastgate, Weardale, the facility marks a significant regeneration and redevelopment scheme, bringing the brownfield site back into sustainable use while providing both local and regional economic benefits. The project is aligned with the UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Battery Strategy and will establish a robust, long-term, and economically viable supply chain of critical minerals.

    Using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, lithium will be extracted from geothermal groundwaters in a low-impact, low-carbon, and low-water usage method. Weardale Lithium has already engaged multinational firm KBR Inc. to provide technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the plant. The proprietary engineering design is based on an integrated technology offering, which has already successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate at pilot scale.

    The demonstration plant’s construction will create between 20 and 50 jobs on site, with an additional employment boost in the local construction sector and supply chains. During the commercial phase, Weardale Lithium estimates approximately 125 highly skilled jobs will be created in the region, generating around £1 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) for the North East.

    The approved planning application represents a multi-million-pound investment in the local and regional economy, with the facility set to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate using renewable energy sources and a proven end-to-end process. The company’s goal is to make a significant contribution to the transition to a carbon-zero economy in the UK.

    Weardale Lithium is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility, ensuring the extraction of lithium has a lower carbon footprint and higher sustainability credentials (low water consumption and low waste) than other lithium sources. The development is expected to provide national supply resilience and security with a lower environmental impact for electric vehicle and battery energy storage systems.

  • Weardale Lithium launches public consultation on test scale lithium extraction plant

    Weardale Lithium launches public consultation on test scale lithium extraction plant

    Weardale Lithium is holding a community consultation event ahead of seeking planning permission to build a lithium extraction pilot plant.

    The company has been trialling the effectiveness of multiple direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies to extract lithium from geothermal groundwater in Weardale, County Durham.

    The test scale facility would be located on the brownfield, former cement works at Eastgate, near Stanhope. It would involve groundwater being taken from existing high-specification wells to be transported via pipelines, negating the need for regular tanker movements on minor roads.

    Lithium is a critical raw material for electric vehicle batteries, but no commercial lithium production or refining currently takes place in the UK or Europe. Lithium produced and refined in the UK offers cost advantages, supply assurances and an environmental premium over foreign suppliers.

    The development of a pilot processing plant next to the wells ensures Weardale and the surrounding areas will receive the maximum economic benefit by ensuring processing is carried out on site.

    Initially, it is estimated the scheme will create 20 to 50 on site jobs plus additional employment within the local construction sector and supply chains.

    Scaling up to eventual commercial production could produce approximately 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year, creating around 125 jobs and generating an estimated £1bn of gross economic value for the region.

    Extraction from geothermal brines via DLE processes has been assessed by third parties to be more sustainable than alternative lithium sources. It is a low-impact, low-carbon and low-water usage method of extracting lithium from brines which Weardale Lithium intend to augment using renewable energy sources.

    The application site comprises four main parts:

    Two existing groundwater abstraction wells, south of the River Wear

    A new buried pipeline taking water from the wells to an existing gantry over the river.

    Pipeline gantry across the River Wear using the former conveyor bridge which previously took limestone from Eastgate Quarry to the former cement works. The pipelines will range from 75mm to 150mm in diameter.

    Construction of a pilot lithium processing plant on the former cement works site.

    The planning application is accompanied by comprehensive ecological, noise, air quality, highways, landscape, heritage, groundwater, surface water and flood risk assessments. For the first 12 months of the site’s operation, a Field Trials Stage will be conducted alongside the construction of the pilot plant.

    Stewart Dickson, CEO of Weardale Lithium, said: “Engaging with our neighbours, supporters and stakeholders is a key part of delivering a project that will generate both jobs and economic prosperity in the area whilst securing the supply of domestic lithium, which is of strategic importance to the UK’s net zero strategy.

    “We are keen to share our proposals with the community and look forward to welcoming visitors to the exhibition. We hope our application will gain their support and that the initial investment in lithium extraction can act as a catalyst to both grow the extraction process and attract other green technology operations to Weardale.”