New UK battery recycling plant

Britishvolt will build a UK battery recycling plant by 2023

The joint venture by Britishvolt and Glencore will repurpose materials and minerals at the Northfleet site for re-use in the battery supply chain.

Located at Glencore’s Britannia Refined Metals operation, the plant will be able to process at least 10,000 lithium-ion batteries a year, such as: valuable battery manufacturing scrap, portable electronics batteries, and EV packs.

‘We’ve been looking for the perfect partner to help kick start a UK battery recycling industry and FTSE100-listed Glencore has expert historical experience in recycling,’ says Britishvolt’s Global Chief Operating Officer Timon Orlob. ‘This JV will help us both to create a truly sustainable battery value-chain, create jobs and develop new battery recycling technologies.’

All of Britishvolt’s valuable manufacturing scrap from their Gigafactory in Blyth, Northumberland, will go for processing at the new joint venture.

The long-term aim is for the plant to be powered entirely by renewable energy.

Head Cobalt Trader at Glencore David Brocas says, ‘This recycling partnership complements our long-term supply agreement for responsible cobalt from our operations in Norway and the Democratic Republic of Congo.’