Altilium Metals and Tees Valley Lithium join forces to accelerate green motoring drive

A green energy duo behind moves to drive forward the electric vehicle revolution have joined forces.

Altilium Metals and Tees Valley Lithium (TVL) have agreed a memorandum of understanding.

Bosses say the partnership will “establish a sustainable and robust supply chain of critical battery minerals” crucial to the green motoring push.

It comes as Altilium continues to finalise plans for a Teesside-based electric vehicle battery recycling plant and TVL presses on with its endeavour to build “Europe’s first independent lithium chemical processing hub” it says will deliver lithium hydroxide – a component for battery manufacture – to the automotive sector.

According to the terms of the alliance, TVL will investigate the supply of lithium hydroxide to Altilium Metals’ factory, where it will be combined with critical metals recovered from end-of-life batteries to produce CAM, a key component in the production of lithium-ion batteries.

The two companies will also collaborate on lithium sulphate supplies to TVL’s Wilton-based refinery, which previously received planning permission.

Dr Christian Marston, Altilium Metals’ chief technology officer, said: “We look forward to working with our neighbour in Teesside on a domestic, sustainable and low-carbon source of critical minerals for a UK electrified supply chain, supporting directly the UK’s net-zero ambitions and its energy security.”

Sam Quinn, Tees Valley Lithium director, added: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Altilium Metals; our respective Teesside facilities will play a significant role in the UK’s transition to electric vehicles and in the development of a UK domestic lithium supply chain.”

Altilium says its proposed Teesside base will have capacity to turn battery waste from more than 150,000 electric vehicles into a key component for new power packs every year, with TVL saying its Wilton factory will create 500 full-time jobs.