Bosses at the multi-bilion pound Britishvolt Gigaplant - which is planning to bring up to 8,000 jobs to the North East - have hit back at reports that it is facing major problems.

The groundbreaking batteries factory at Blyth, which will manufacture some of the world’s most sustainable, low carbon battery cells, to be built in phases towards total capacity from the end of 2027, was just the sort of high profile innovatve project the Government wanted to see as it pushed the electric vehicles agenda as a major part of its own Net Zero ambitions.

Read more: ISG to start building BritishVolt battery plant

But reports today said the company had been forced onto 'life support', shutting down many aspects of the operation to save money.

The project on a 93-hectare site at the former Blyth Power Station in Cambois would be a major boost for Northumberland, and as well as 3,000 direct highly-skilled jobs, another 5,000 will be created in the associated supply chains.

Government funding believed to be around £100million was followed by a long-term partnership with Trixtax and abrdn that will deliver £1.7bn in private funding.

Once at full capacity, the Gigaplant - the fourth largest building in the UK - will have a production capability equating to approximately enough cells for around 300,000 electric vehicle battery packs per year, intended primarily for the automotive industry.

But documents leaked to The Guardian suggest a 'funding gap' may have caused delays to the installation of steel infrastructure to be procured from British steel company Severfield. Earthworks have also been delayed by “lack of payment”.

Such problems for a key site like this - Aston Martin has already said it wants to work with Britishvolt to develop high performance battery cell technology - mean the company says it has to focus on the infrastructure and unlocking its next round of funding which means radical cuts to other work at the site.

The Northern Echo: The planned GigaplantThe planned Gigaplant

But today the company hit back - claiming they were so far ahead of schedule they had been able to "...take the time to reschedule some strands of work..."

A company spokesperson told The Northern Echo: "We are progressing ahead of schedule in our enabling works at the Britishvolt Gigasite in Cambois, near Blyth, Northumberland. This has allowed us to take the time to focus on design work for the site and to reschedule some strands of construction work, optimising the build process for each of the project’s four phases.

"Flexing the plan in this way enables us to better source materials given current supply constraints due to the global economic situation and to enhance our cost efficiencies.  

"We are also accelerating plans for our state-of-the-art scale-up facility at Hams Hall in the Midlands. This will act as a mini replica of the Blyth site, giving us the opportunity to embed best practice, fine-tune chemistries, optimise machine layout, and ensure that the Britishvolt Cambois Gigaplant is one of the most efficient, highest quality and lowest carbon emitting globally. 

"We continue to work with our financing partners and investors on funding scenarios for the build of the shell and core of the Gigaplant project, and to develop the associated supplier park at Blyth."

The project is being watched so carefully and has been clearly adopted as a flagship of innovation by the Government - as well as being a ray of hope for jobs in the area - that any shift in the plans or suggestion of a delay or unexpected challenge - will be pounced upon.

This is all far from 'the beginning of the end' as Britishvolt's engine  misfires once or twice, but the hazard lights are on, they've pulled over to have the steering checked and solid, firm progress back onto the road needs to happen fast and with an equally high profile.

 

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