According to the Business Desk, Altilium, a Devon-based clean technology group, announced a partnership with HELM AG, a global chemicals company, through its UK subsidiary LevertonHELM Ltd. The collaboration aims to establish a sustainable domestic lithium supply chain, reducing the UK’s reliance on imported materials and advancing the transition to a greener economy.The partnership focuses on recovering lithium from end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries and production scrap at Altilium’s recycling facilities. The recovered technical-grade lithium carbonate will be qualified by LevertonHELM for integration into the UK supply chain.
The collaboration leverages Altilium’s expertise in battery material recovery and LevertonHELM’s advanced lithium production capabilities. Altilium’s ACT2 recycling facility in Plymouth, launched in 2024, processes up to 300kg of black mass waste—equivalent to one EV battery—per day using its proprietary EcoCathode™ process. This enables the recovery of lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which are reintroduced into the domestic supply chain. The initiative aligns with new EU battery regulations requiring EV batteries to contain at least 6% recycled lithium by 2031, increasing to 12% by 2036.
China currently refines 60–70% of the world’s lithium for EV batteries, leaving the UK heavily dependent on imports. LevertonHelm’s global expertise in producing high-quality lithium chemicals complements Altilium’s urban mining approach, paving the way for greener and more efficient lithium refining processes. The two companies will also explore innovative processing techniques to maximize resource utilization and sustainability. By developing domestic capabilities, Altilium and HELM aim to enhance the UK’s resilience and competitiveness in the global battery market.
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