Technology Minerals to open UK’s first industrial scale lithium-ion battery recycling plant

Technology Minerals the first listed UK company focused on creating a sustainable circular economy for battery metals, has announced that its battery recycling subsidiary Recyclus Group has received final clearance from the Environment Agency to commence full operations at its lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton.

Recyclus has also been awarded Approved Battery Treatment Operator status by the Environment Agency, allowing it to commence recycling operations immediately, with on-site treatment and processing of spent Li-ion batteries.

The EA permit allows Recyclus a daily storage limit of 140 m3 (c.100 tonnes) and to process up to 22,000 tonnes of Li-ion batteries per annum.

It is expected that 8,300 tonnes will be processed in the first year, utilising a single shift pattern of labour during the standard working week.

Applications for licence variations to operate additional shifts will be considered in due course as will the potential to increase processing capability.

The approval from the EA for the Wolverhampton plant is a major milestone for Recyclus, making it the first industrial scale plant in the UK with the capability to recycle Li-ion batteries.

Operations will commence on completion of the fire prevention systems installation which is expected shortly. This will be followed immediately by a plant commissioning phase, which is expected to commence in June this year.

Robin Brundle, Chairman of Technology Minerals, said: “This is a significant moment for the Company and the UK. The Wolverhampton plant has become the first facility in the UK with the capability to recycle Li-ion batteries on an industrial scale.

“Given the global shift towards electrification and the growing demand for Li-ion batteries, we believe we have a compelling first mover advantage in this burgeoning market.

"Our aim is to establish enduring partnerships with businesses and organisations, both in the UK and internationally, offering them an environmentally friendly solution for their end-of-life batteries.

"With feedstock stored and ready to be processed, everything is in place to ramp up operations at the facility and start generating revenues.”