Green Lithium appoints WSP as its Owner's Engineer for UK's first commercial lithium refinery

The partnership with WSP will ensure that Green Lithium benefits from a globally recognised Owner's Engineer that has prior experience of delivering lithium refineries in other territories, including Australia. After completing a competitive procurement process, WSP will now assume the Owner's Engineer role, which will ensure that the engineering solutions provided to Green Lithium meet the needs of a merchant refinery and help Green Lithium to achieve its carbon net-zero ambitions.

In delivering its lithium refinery, Green Lithium aims to fill the missing link in the electric vehicle supply chain, using a sustainable and low-carbon refining process to connect Europe's lithium battery and cell manufacturers with a secure supply of lithium hydroxide, produced from abundant international sources of raw lithium mineral ore.

There is currently no commercial lithium refining capability in Europe, leaving the continent's rapidly growing electric vehicle and sustainable energy storage sectors wholly reliant on East Asia for its battery-grade lithium chemicals.

It is forecast that the growing demand for battery-grade lithium chemicals will not be met by refining capacity that is currently available or planned, therefore increasing and diversifying supply will be vital for the commercial viability of the European battery supply chain and, therefore, the electric vehicle revolution and transition to net zero.

Sean Sargent, Chief Executive Officer, at Green Lithium said: “The appointment of an Owner's Engineer is a crucial development for any major construction project, and we're delighted that a firm with the experience, expertise and market standing of WSP will be fulfilling this important role for Green Lithium.