THE North Pennines is one of eight potential hotspots where the UK may look to mine lithium to meet soaring demand for car batteries.
The North Pennine Orefield, which stretches from Middleton-in-Teesdale to Weardale and Allendale, has the potential for “critical” raw materials needed for green energy as the UK looks to strengthen its supply of these minerals.
The British Geological Survey, on behalf of the Government-funded UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, has mapped areas that may yield 18 key metals and minerals, including cobalt and lithium. It’s the first map the Government has created to identify globally sought-after resources needed for electric car batteries, semiconductors and wind turbines.
The eigtht “key” areas have been identified as “particularly worthy” of more research. The report said the raw materials are economically important and at risk of supply disruption. The value of lithium is expected to rocket as global demand increases for electric car batteries. Chris Woodley-Stewart, director of the North Pennines AONB Partnership, said any proposal would need to take the landscape into consideration.
He said: “This report is an outline assessment of the potential for further investigation and feasibility.
“The only work that is live at the moment is early exploration of future lithium mining. Proposals for mining critical rare minerals are unlike other kinds of development, in that they are where they are, and by definition they are rare and important to modern industry; if they’re exploitable then at some point in the future there may be a case made for doing so. Like all development in the AONB, there would be a need to take account of the landscape, wildlife and heritage of the area if and when any such proposals are brought forward.”
In 2017 the UK imported
1,919 tonnes of lithium carbonate and a combined 324 tonnes of lithium oxide and hydroxide. That’s expected to rise to 75,000 tonnes of lithium a year by 2035.
Major producers include China, Australia and Zimbabwe. There is currently no mine production of lithium in the UK but in 2020, Cornish Lithium found significant levels of the metal in the south-west and is aiming to start production by 2026.
Weardale Lithium Ltd is already assessing the lithium potential of the North Pennines. Northern Lithium also secured agreements with the owners of certain mineral rights across large areas of Weardale. In 2021, Raby Estates “regularised” its existing mineral ownerships across Teesdale through the Land Registry. The three areas in England – Cumbria, the North Pennines and the south west – could contain lithium, graphite and antimony.
All those areas have been mined historically with The London Lead Company's headquarters based in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
At 1,500sq km, the North Pennine Orefield is the second-largest area of lead and zinc mineralisation in the Britain. From the 12th to end of the 20th century, ten million tonnes of metal ores were mined from the area.
Eimear Deady, British Geological Survey mineral resource geologist, said: “Our report identifies the parts of the UK where the geological criteria have been met and therefore have the potential for deposits to occur. There are no guarantees.
“The report focuses on the geological evidence and does not consider potential constraints on development, for example where there are areas of outstanding beauty, villages and towns, or other environmental considerations.”
Dr Kathryn Goodenough, British Geological Survey principal geologist, added: “Mining in the UK has a long history and many of the prospective areas have been mined before. Other countries like Canada, the USA, Norway, Sweden and Finland are also mapping their own geological potential as they too understand the risk of continuing to rely entirely on global supply chains for minerals that are vital to our way of life.”
Durham County Council’s Minerals and Waste Policy, which was published last year, recognised the importance of the Teesdale and Weardale, particularly because of the area’s history of mineral extraction and exploration.
It read: “These mineral resources all occur within West Durham which is recognised to be the most environmentally sensitive part of County Durham. West Durham also has limited road infrastructure, principally along the main river valleys into the North Pennines.
“Should proposals for future extraction occur in the future, the impact of any future working on the environment and the amenity of local communities will be key considerations in determining any future proposals.”
Michael Kelleher, Durham County Council’s head of planning, said: “The report is a national assessment of potential areas for the mining of materials such as lithium, in which the North Pennines is one of a number of locations outlined for further investigation.
“If proposals are submitted for this area, they will be assessed in line with our County Durham Plan and our Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document, which outline a series of requirements to ensure any new developments do not adversely affect the environment, local communities, or people’s health.”
