Green jobs boost for Teesside: Two new lithium projects announced

The Northeast received a boost yesterday after two companies selected Teesside for battery projects.

Energy start-up Green Lithium will build a £600 million lithium refinery in Teesport of PD Ports, the UK’s fifth largest port, and Altilium Metals will develop a battery recycling plant.

The refinery is expected to create 1,000 jobs during construction and 250 permanent jobs once the project is commissioned in 2025.

But plans to turn the Northeast into a hub for green jobs and the battery industry have recently been shaken by Britishvolt’s trials and tribulations.

The battery company, which planned to develop a £3.8 billion gigafactory factory, received five weeks of emergency funding from commodities giant Glencore last week after preparing to appoint administrators.

Sean Sargent, chief executive of Green Lithium, said mistakes will inevitably be made as the UK tries to become a global leader in battery manufacturing.

“It’s still in the early stages and we’re in the foothills,” he said.

“This is an industrial revolution as the UK moves towards building gigafactories.”

The government is seeking to strengthen the electric vehicle supply chain before a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Lithium is key here and is used to make batteries for use in electric vehicles and wind and solar power plants.

About 90 percent of global lithium processing takes place in China and there are no lithium refineries in Europe.

As a result, UK car and battery manufacturers are currently almost entirely dependent on China for supply.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘We are supporting companies such as Green Lithium here in Teesside to grow the UK’s new green industries, providing jobs and growth for decades to come. This is leveling in action.’

BP said last month it plans to build the UK’s largest green hydrogen plant on Teesside.