The construction of Europe’s largest lithium hydroxide refinery is to be built on Teesside as Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council grant planning permission. The refinery will be built at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in the Teesside Freeport.
The refinery is expected to produce lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate sourced from imported high grade feedstock from South America and lithium producers in Australia. Once in full production it is expected to produce 96,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
At the present time China currently controls 90% of the worlds lithium refining capacity but it is thought that before very long it will require all of the production domestically to support their own net zero aspirations.
Construction is planned to begin in 2023 following engineering studies.