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Lithium, Leadership and Vision 2035
The UK Government has released its refreshed Critical Minerals Strategy – Vision 2035, setting out a renewed national plan to secure the minerals essential for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and industrial resilience. The strategy establishes clear demand projections, domestic production targets and a firm commitment to strengthening supply chain security through a combination of domestic capability and international partnerships.
Critically, lithium is placed at the heart of the UK’s long-term industrial future, with the Government highlighting that lithium demand is expected to rise by 1,100 percent by 2035. The strategy sets a dedicated ambition for lithium: producing 50,000 tonnes of lithium (LCE) domestically by 2035, representing roughly 15 percent of national demand. This heightened focus reflects lithium’s central role in electric vehicles, battery energy storage, and the wider clean energy transition.
Teesside is also recognised as one of the UK’s regional strengths for critical mineral processing, a significant validation of Tees Valley Lithium’s decision to anchor the UK’s flagship lithium hydroxide refinery on Teesside. The strategy places strong emphasis on the UK’s competitive advantage in midstream processing, precisely the part of the value chain TVL is delivering.
New policy measures, including the proposed extension of energy support schemes, are welcome steps that create a more attractive environment for the large-scale investment the UK will require. While additional support will be necessary to meet the UK’s ambitious 2035 targets, the direction of travel is clear: domestic refining capacity is now recognised as a strategic national priority.
For TVL, this strategy provides powerful confirmation that our approach has been the right one from the outset. Established well before the publication of Vision 2035, TVL has been progressing at speed — and the Government’s updated framework now firmly aligns with our mission to build a flexible, future-ready and globally competitive lithium refinery on Teesside.
Download our full review of the new Strategy here.
UK Critical Minerals Strategy in Full
