Battery maker Britishvolt says construction of its multimillion-pound Northumberland gigafactory will continue in a limited capacity until February.
The start-up manufacturer, which recently received assurances of Government funding for the plant, was responding to further reports of uncertainty surrounding the project. It comes after last week's assurances from the company that work is continuing, following suggestions activity had stalled on site.
Britishvolt hopes to produce more than 300,000 lithium-ion batteries a year at Blyth, making it the second gigafactory in the North East after the Envision AESC plant at Sunderland. The factory aims to create 3,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs once fully operational.
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Britishvolt has previously said it has revisited construction schedules to make efficiencies across four planned phases of works, and its has now confirmed preparation for the building's structural steel work will take place in February.
The company says that its ability to change the construction schedule means it can find cost savings and better source materials amid global supply chain challenges. A statement from the firm said: "Delivery of key materials to site continues along with project preparation activities. This will be followed in February with significant works such as piling which will prepare the site for structural steel work."
The lithium-ion battery manufacturer has insisted it is still on target to start production at the 95 hectare former Blyth Power Station site in 2024 and has said it is ahead of schedule with enabling works. In July, main contractors ISG received 1,500 tonnes of aggregate to be used in the groundworks at the site, part of a 316,000 tonne order due to be used to create the surface on which 15,000 foundational piles will be created to support the 25-hectare building.
Last month, ISG said 334 lorry journeys will be made each day, for a period of 24 weeks, to transport the aggregates from the Port of Blyth to the site. That part of the build process alone is said to have created 10 jobs. Just a few days ago London-based ISG said work was continuing at Cambois.
Touted to deliver 3,000 direct jobs and a further 5,000 in the supply chain, Britishvolt's gigafactory has attracted interest from luxury car manufacturers Lotus and Aston Martin, which have signed agreements to buy its batteries. The firm also has plans for a smaller facility at Hams Hall in the Midlands.
The company added: "We are also accelerating plans for our state-of-the-art scale-up facility at Hams Hall in the Midlands. This will act as a mini replica of the Blyth site, giving us the opportunity to embed best practice, fine-tune chemistries, optimise machine layout, and ensure that the Britishvolt Cambois gigaplant is one of the most efficient, highest quality and lowest carbon emitting globally.
"We continue to work with our financing partners and investors on funding scenarios for the build of the shell and core of the Gigaplant project, and to develop the associated supplier park at Blyth."
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