Green Lithium - Rosyth Refinery

In 2020, the UK Government released a refreshed '10-Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution', setting out plans to reduce UK CO2 emissions by 180mT between 2023-2032\. The Government will also work with industry to devise further sectoral plans to achieve 'net zero' by 2050\. To achieve these and other decarbonisation commitments, the UK -- and also its European neighbours, many of which have similar plans -- require widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

The UK Government has also announced a ban of new sales of combustion-engine vehicles by 2030 and hybrids by 2035, driving further direct demand for EV transition.

In addition to these national governmental plans and commitments, post-Brexit the UK automotive industry will need to comply with the EU's 'Rules of Origin' requirements around local sourcing of products within the supply chain and the strict ESG standards under the 'Battery Directive'. Without such compliance, UK manufacturers will be commercially uncompetitive through EU tariff imposition or effectively prohibited entirely from selling into the EU.

There is clearly a vast and growing demand for refined lithium hydroxide for use in EV batteries in both the UK and Europe. However, in 2019, 80% of battery-grade lithium used globally was produced in China. The UK and Europe dangerously depend on Chinese imports for modern lithium-ion batteries used in EVs.

Reconciling demand/production forecasts, European refinery capacity is critically required, not least as Chinese OEMs are expected to increasingly consume higher proportions of Chinese-refined lithium at the expense of supply to UK and Europe. Without such supply, green-energy transition and decarbonisation in the UK and Europe will be put at significant risk.

Green Lithium's refinery will be a cornerstone UK green-infrastructure asset, enabling UK-based cathode/anode/cell and EV manufacture, ushering in an era of decarbonisation and green jobs, and supporting long-term economic prosperity. The global lithium arms race is on -- let's not allow the UK to be left behind.