UK based Northern Lithium announced on 15 October 2025 that it signed an agreement with Kurita, and Evove for the joint extraction and production of lithium in UK by Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. Kurita will design and build modular plants that will use the Evove’s advanced membrane-based DLE technology.
Northern Lithium is targeting to commence lithium production in County Durham, Northeast England, by 2027, with an initial rate of 500 tonnes per year. Production is projected to grow to over 20,000 tonnes per year by 2035.
The agreement covers at least the first 5,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE). It follows successful tests using millions of litres of saline water from the Northern Pennine Orefield and a 1:15 scale DLE demonstration unit tested at Ludwell Farm, County Durham, between January and April 2025.
The new commercial plants will be among the first to produce reliable and sustainable local lithium supplies, supporting domestic and regional markets. By 2035, the UK is expected to need over 80,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) each year. Northern Lithium could supply up to 25% of that demand.
Makoto Mizuno, Executive General Manager of Kurita’s Innovation Division, said, “We are truly thrilled to have forged an international partnership that will accelerate the commercialization of a lithium extraction plant powered by Evove’s groundbreaking DLE technology”. “This project represents a fusion of our decades of expertise in advanced water treatment with the cutting-edge innovations and deep knowledge of Evove and Northern Lithium. Together, Kurita is creating a transformative solution that delivers both exceptional efficiency and a significant reduction in environmental impact. By combining the strengths of all three companies, we aim to establish a sustainable resource supply system that will play a significant role in realizing a carbon-neutral society. This is more than a project—it’s a shared commitment to shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
The CEO of Northern Lithium, Nick Pople, said, “As we look to first commercial production by the end of 2027, we have real confidence in the Evove-Kurita DLE solution. Having signed the strategic partnership MOU in Tokyo last week, we have already started the detailed engineering and design phase for the commercial plants. Kurita and Evove consider processing our brine relatively simple and we look forward to the first commercial production units being installed on site in 2027”.
