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Technology Minerals Plc (LSE: TM1), the first listed UK company focused on creating a sustainable circular economy for battery metals, is pleased to announce that its 48.25% owned battery recycling business, Recyclus Group Ltd (“Recyclus”), has received final clearance from the Environment Agency (“EA”) to commence full operations at its lithium-ion (“Li-ion”) battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. Recyclus has also been awarded Approved Battery Treatment Operator (“ABTO”) status by the EA, 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.

Following commencement of operations, Recyclus anticipates the receipt of gate fees for collection and storage of Li-ion batteries, and from the sale of black mass, produced from the recycling process. Black mass contains critical battery metals that can be sold back into the battery supply chain.

Recyclus owns the IP for both the process and the plant which is designed to process most Li-ion battery types. Recyclus will manufacture all plants, including those designed specifically for OEM clients, here in the UK. Recyclus’s aim is to increase the UK processing capability to c.50,000 tonnes per annum through the construction of five more Li-ion recycling plants.

BIS Research latest study, Black Mass Recycling Market – A Global and Regional Analysis, states the global black mass recycling market, valued at $9.22bn in 2022, is projected to reach $53 bn by 2031.

Robin Brundle, Chairman of Technology Minerals, said: “We are pleased to announce that we have received final EA approval to commence full automated operations at our Li-ion battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton. 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.”

Enquiries

Technology Minerals Plc 

Technology Minerals is developing the UK’s first listed company, providing a sustainable circular economy for battery metals, using cutting-edge technology to recycle, recover, and re-use battery technologies for a renewable energy future. Technology Minerals is focused on extracting raw materials required for Li-ion batteries, whilst solving the ecological issue of spent Li-ion batteries, by recycling them for re-use by battery manufacturers. As with the increasing global demand for battery metals to supply electrification increases, the group will explore, mine, and recycle metals from spent batteries. Further information on Technology Minerals is available at www.technologyminerals.co.uk  

Recyclus Group Ltd  

The demand for the raw materials used in battery manufacturing is anticipated to increase substantially. Recyclus Group provides a national recycling initiative that supports the transition to carbon neutrality. Recyclus Group’s battery recycling capacity will prove essential in the shift from fossil fuels to electric transportation. Through its strategic support from Technology Minerals, Recyclus is an integral component to the recycling of lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries and is a significant contributor towards the circular economy of battery metals. Further information on Recyclus Group is available at www.recyclusgroup.com