Northern Lithium Ltd. (“Northern Lithium”) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its recent program of long term 60-day pump tests and Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) trials, which sought to further prove the commercial viability of lithium extraction from brines under the Northern Pennine Orefield in Co. Durham, Northeast of England.
Image Credit: Evove
Nick Pople, Northern Lithium Managing Director, said, “The results of these recent trials are a great step forward for our unique partnership established to deliver a secure, sustainable supply of lithium for the UK using Northern Lithium’s UK lithium brines, Evove’s UK developed advanced DLE technology and RSE’s UK process engineering expertise.”
Detailed analysis and interpretation of data collected over the 60-day pump testing period has confirmed and strengthened the results achieved during initial 30-day tests in 2024. In particular, the tests have provided:
- (further confirmation of consistent, economically viable concentrations of lithium in the brines abstracted throughout the test period, underpinning the input assumptions used in the Company’s current project economic model, and
- confirmed the commercial suitability of the sub-surface hydrogeological formation, through a sustained program of simultaneous abstraction and reinjection of brines at higher flow rates and for a longer period than previously tested.
In a UK first, the demonstration scale trials of Evove Ltd’s (“Evove”) unique next-generation advanced Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology was a resounding success, proving the plant design and meeting critical production KPIs, including lithium recovery rates and product purity levels. The project is believed to be one of only a handful that have been concluded at this scale world-wide outside China.
Trial data was collected by Evove to inform the design of several process efficiency innovations, most notably the ultra selective nanofiltration membranes which are at the heart of this next-generation DLE system. The membranes’ proven capability to remove nearly all impurities (especially calcium and magnesium) at the start of the DLE process creates significant efficiencies that translate to superior economics and a viable business case for decentralized production.
Evove’s modelling, derived from 78 million data points gathered through the processing of 3.5 million liters of Northen Lithium brines, indicates a commercial end-to-end lithium recovery rate of up to 92% from raw brine to final battery-grade product, surpassing the initial project target modelled at 80%, and a purity of lithium chloride/sulphate product produced of up to 96.5%. This exceptional purity simplifies the midstream conversion process to lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide products used in electrical batteries, proving the suitability of Northern Lithium brines and Evove’s DLE process, using combined membrane filtration and ion exchange stages, to meet domestic lithium demand and, critically, indicating lower capex and processing costs.
Nick Pople said, “We have made considerable progress over the past year and are pleased that our recent long term pump tests and demo scale DLE trials have provided further proof of concept on our targeted path to first commercial production of lithium by the end of 2027. In the current geopolitical climate, it is encouraging that the UK government is recognizing that the UK has an urgent need to secure its own domestic lithium supply. The results of our recent tests and trials have confirmed that Northern Lithium now has the opportunity and potential to scale up supply, within the next decade, to significantly more than our current base case target of 10,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium delivered per year from a series of production sites across the Northern Pennine Orefield.”
Chris Wyres, CEO of DLE technology firm Evove, said, “We are delighted that Evove’s advanced filtration technology is helping bring the Northern Lithium project to commercial reality. From the first brine processing at industrial scale in our DLE Test Centre in Widnes in 2023 to delivering fully operational demonstration scale in-field DLE trials this year is a remarkable testament to the unique partnership between Northern Lithium, engineering firm RSE and Evove.”
Connor Morton, Managing Director of engineering firm RSE, said: “We are pleased to have played a central role in, and to see the successful delivery and completion of, the recent in-field demonstration scale DLE plant trials at Ludwell Farm, working alongside our partners at Northern Lithium and Evove. This marks a major milestone towards the commercial production of lithium by Northern Lithium, helping to secure a resilient, domestic supply of critical minerals to meet future UK demand”.
Northern Lithium and Evove will now proceed with detailed design engineering for the first fully functioning commercial scale DLE production unit, with operation targeted for end of 2027. In parallel, samples of lithium product produced from the recent trials will be used in discussions with potential off-take partners.
Sam Rushworth, MP for Bishop Auckland, said, “Northern Lithium’s continued progress towards commercial production and delivery of a domestic supply of lithium at scale, is good news for economic growth and creating jobs in an area that has suffered from de-industrialization. Beyond the jobs created on site, this opens new economic opportunities in County Durham and the North East and is important to the government’s forthcoming Industrial and Critical Minerals Strategy which aims to create a secure and sustainable supply of critical minerals for the UK.”
Fundraising
In September 2024, the Company set out to raise up to GBP6 million to fund its operations and next stage development program through to the end of Q1 2026, aiming to raise an initial tranche (“Tranche 1”) of up to GBP2.0 million to fund activities in H1 2025. Tranche 1 was closed at GBP3.45 million in Q1 2025, ahead of the 60-day pump tests and demo scale DLE trials. Marketing for a second tranche of funding (“Tranche 2”), of up to GBP2.5 million, will commence shortly.
Nick Pople added, “The success of our fundraising to date reflects not just confidence in the progress we are making at Northern Lithium, but also a growing acceptance that the UK needs to develop its own secure and sustainable domestic lithium supply. We are confident that Northern Lithium is well placed to play a key part in meeting the UK’s fast-rising demand for lithium, across everything from EVs and low carbon infrastructure to key elements of defence equipment.”
Tranche 2 will be deployed through the rest of 2025 and beginning of 2026 to cover an additional drilling program along with the preparation and submission of full planning and permitting applications in readiness for next phase of commercial development work in 2026 and 2027. The Company will be assessing fundraising requirements for 2026 and beyond later this year.