The company aiming to build the UK’s first lithium factory in the region to supply EV battery makers has attracted London brokers to the region, to show them key sites of the plan.
Alkemy Capital Investments plc is the investment vehicle behind Tees Valley Lithium (TVL) , the firm that aims to launch the £216m factory at Teesside Freeport, which could become the UK’s first lithium hydroxide plant.
The company – which published suggesting the factory could supply 15% of the demand for the UK and EU’s electric vehicle manufacturing needs – wants to get the plant operational by late 2023 and says an estimated 400 jobs could be created at the plant.
Alkemy and TVL has now announced on the Stock Market that it last week hosted London brokers VSA Capital and Shard Capital on a visit to the Wilton International Chemicals Park, where it plans to build the plant, and the Teesside Port facilities.
VSA Capital, an international investment banking and broking firm, has a long-established track record of successfully helping small and mid-cap companies in the natural resources, transitional energy, alternative energy space to realise their goals. Shard Capital, meanwhile, is an independent financial services company headquartered in London, offering a full range of broking, asset management and corporate capital services.
The announcement said: “The Wilton International Teesside Chemicals Park is one of the biggest in Europe and is host to Anglo American, SABIC, Alpec, Nippon Gas among others. Wilton are providing TVL with plug and play services including energy, development land, infrastructure, fibre, utilities and security at TVL’s 20-acre plot.
“The visitors to TVL’s site at Wilton noted the access to chemicals reagent services and access to green renewable energy - including the planned direct wire link to the world’s biggest wind farm located at Dogger Bank.
“The group were also hosted by PD Ports, one the UKs largest port operators who will provide logistic services including container handling. The PD Ports Teesport location is the nation’s fifth largest port and the UK’s northern gateway for international trade.”
Over the past month, TVL has announced its feasability study along with outstanding metallurgical testwork results for its battery-grade lithium hydroxide, validated by Cathode Active Material manufacturers. The company said preparations are well advanced for activities on the ground to commence later in the year.
TVL CEO John Walker said: “Tees Valley Lithium is moving fast towards establishing the world’s first independent and sustainable lithium hydroxide processing facility, here at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in Teesside UK. TVL, with the help of it’s partners, will be supplying the UK and Europe with 96,000tpa of battery-grade lithium hydroxide - the equivalent to 15% of European demand by 2030.”
