Blue Battery Metals - A UK Processing Feasibility Study

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UKSR envisages a field-to-table supply chain for EV batteries, wherein mineral deposits under UK licence in international waters are collected at sea and processed onshore in the UK to provide sufficient cathode-active materials to meet the requirements and demand level of the UK EV industry. This vision is enabled by an existing UKSR-Government partnership to explore Polymetallic Nodule (PMN) deposits in the Pacific Ocean containing manganese, cobalt and nickel, as well as copper, molybdenum and rare earth elements. This element of the project focuses on the UK processing element of the value chain, as part of a wider industry-funded programme.The key project objectives are to assess the feasibility of developing and building in the UK a novel, zero-waste mineral facility to process PMN to produce cathode active materials (Nickel, Cobalt and Manganese) in a form and at a scale that can meet the long-term requirements of the UK's EV battery supply chain.The main areas of focus will be to:-identify the optimal process to meet the requirements of the UK EV supply chain and minimise waste-identify UK and export markets for other process outputs including non-metal materials-identify principal factors determining optimal site location-identify any potentially suitable UK sites, with recommendations to enhance suitability further, and alternative sites if no UK option is suitable-provide quantified input to programme-level investment case and government policyThe innovation comes in three forms.First, as there is currently no industrial-scale process capable of yielding the full value of PMN, the chemical process itself will be novel and require further research and development activities to scale-up to maturity.Second, a key programme goal is "zero waste" -- that is, full reagent recycling and a commercial use for all products from the process.Third, a UK-controlled EV battery raw material supply chain, from ore extraction to battery manufacturing, will enable the UK to break its dependence on raw material imports and vulnerability to geopolitical competition for resources. A predictable, low-impact, long-term supply of cobalt, manganese and nickel will de-risk the availability and cost fluctuation of these materials currently for battery manufacturing in the UK, thus building resilience, consistency, and value throughout the UK supply chain for electric vehicles. In addition, it will create skilled UK jobs and enable the UK to benefit economically from the export of critical metals to the growing renewable technology market.