Projects · Gas & Critical Minerals
Former Eastgate cement works, Weardale, County Durham, England·In developmentGas & Critical Minerals
Weardale Lithium demonstration plant
- StagePlanning granted for two-phase development at Eastgate; DRIVE35 Scale-Up feasibility funding announced Apr 2026
- Next milestoneFeasibility study to map brinefield and de-risk wellfield scale-up
- Last checked1 November 2026
What has changed on this project, and when
- Next milestone: Feasibility study to map brinefield and de-risk wellfield scale-up2 November 2026 · previously: Commercial production targeted late 2026
- Stage: Planning granted for two-phase development at Eastgate; DRIVE35 Scale-Up feasibility funding announced Apr 20262 November 2026 · previously: Planning granted Feb 2025; DRIVE35 Scale-Up grant awarded Apr 2026; construction start not yet confirmed
- Value: Not disclosed2 November 2026 · previously: ~£1bn projected regional economic activity
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