STATEMENT FROM WEARDALE LITHIUM
IN RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE BY RICHARD WALSH:
A representative for Weardale Lithium, said: “We are exceptionally proud to be able to play a part in
the future prosperity of Weardale. The energy transition requires critical minerals that are secure,
sustainable and affordable.
At a time when the UK has zero domestic lithium production and is entirely reliant on imports
from environmentally damaging sources and geopolitically sensitive regions, our plans for lithium
production in Weardale directly will contribute to the development of the low carbon economy,
bringing future-facing jobs and significant investment to the immediate area and wider regional
supply chain.
The regeneration of the former cement works in Eastgate as a central processing facility is a
generational opportunity. Regenerating this brownfield location makes use of valuable existing
infrastructure, connectivity and minimises environmental impact.
The facility, which recently received planning approval from Durham County Council will be the
UK’s first commercial scale-up extraction and processing of lithium from ground waters. It has been
designed to scale to a first commercial output of 10,000 tonnes per year, with the potential to
double. These tonnages make a significant contribution to the UK’s domestic supply of critical
minerals.
We have spent considerable time and investment in developing sustainable and sensitive
processes to safely extract lithium from the geothermal groundwaters deep below the surface. Our
method consumes significantly less water, creates less waste, and avoids large-scale land disruption
than methods currently used elsewhere.
The water abstracted is found at very different depth to that used for normal domestic and
agricultural use and has a different chemical composition. There is no connectivity between them.
As the plant will operate an integrated, continuous flowing end-to-end process, for the
production of battery grade lithium carbonate on site, this negates the need for disruptive logistics
or additional traffic.
“We have been grateful for the all the positive support we have received from local residents,
parish councils in Weardale and we look forward to working closely with them and keeping them
update on the progress of our project. Economic growth, community benefit, and environmental
stewardship are not competing interests, they are the pillars of our truly sustainable business”
