Weardale Lithium has appointed Michael Fallon as Senior Strategic Advisor, amid the company advancing its plans to establish lithium production from geothermal brines in the UK.
Fallon served in the UK Government for over three decades, as secretary of state for defence and as minister of state for business and energy.
Alongside his government experience, Fallon holds several senior advisory and chairman positions across infrastructure, advanced technologies, energy, and investment.
Weardale Lithium says the appointment strengthens its strategic capability, as geopolitical forces, supply chain security, and the global transition towards electrification continue to drive demand for reliable domestic sources of lithium and other critical minerals.
Fallon says the UK has an opportunity to strengthen sovereign resilience through the development of secure domestic supply chains and homegrown critical mineral production, especially lithium.
“Weardale Lithium is operating in a sector of growing national importance and I look forward to supporting the company as it continues to develop its plans in the North East of England,” he says.
CEO Stewart Dickson says the development of secure, domestic supply chains for critical minerals is becoming increasingly important to the UK’s long-term economic resilience, industrial competitiveness and energy transition ambitions.
“His experience across defence, trade, energy, infrastructure, and international investment markets will provide valuable strategic insight as we continue to progress our plans in County Durham and position Weardale Lithium at the forefront of developing a domestic lithium industry,” Dickson says.
Weardale Lithium is developing a commercial lithium extraction facility from geothermal brines to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Planning approval has been granted for a two-phase development, enabling commercial scale-up and making it the UK’s largest permitted lithium extraction project.
Once fully commercialised, the project is anticipated to support regional economic activity through high-skilled employment, supply chain engagement, and inward investment.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Wearedale Lithium
