London-based start-up Green Lithium has obtained planning permission to build its proposed lithium refinery in northern England after a three-month permitting process, Kallanish reports.

The company confirmed its application, submitted in April to the Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, was approved on 25 July. The fast permit follows a public consultation and completion of all statutory assessments, including the environment impact assessment, Green Lithium notes.

“The approval of the application signals support for Green Lithium’s project to build state-of-the-art facilities on Teesside, as all independent consultees found no issues or concerns with the proposed development,” the company adds.

The refinery is planned to be built on a 58-acre site within the PD Ports Teesport complex in Teesside. It will produce 50,000 tonnes/year of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, which is enough to power 1 million EVs.

Green Lithium says its project will be the UK’s first large-scale lithium refinery and will have a carbon footprint 75% lower than traditional refineries. Besides using a non-acid leach process, the plant will rely on renewable electricity, hydrogen gas and carbon capture and storage technology to curb its emissions.

“This is an exciting development,” says Nusrat Ghani, UK business and trade state minister. “Green Lithium’s plans for a refinery in Teesside highlight the UK as a strategic location for refining and mid-stream manufacturing, reinforcing the UK as a leading player in the global race for critical minerals.”

Company’s ceo Sean Sargent adds the proposed refinery will support continent-wide security of supply. “East Asia currently processes 89% of the world’s hard-rock lithium, and demand there is expected to exceed production output by 2030. Therefore, the UK and EU’s dependence on imported refined lithium chemicals creates uncertainty over supply, price and volume security,” he says.

Having secured £13 million ($16.7m) of funding to date, Green Lithium is currently raising further capital through a crowdfunding platform Seedrs. The £600m project has received £600,000 in government funding through the Automotive Transformation Fund. According to the company, 60% of its cash cost will come from spodumene concentrate feedstock purchase.

The company said in November 2022 it expected first production in 2025, with construction slated to take three years.