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.
