Technology Minerals PLC (LSE:TM1)'s 49% owned associate Recyclus Group has been granted an environmental permit at its lead-acid battery recycling plant in Tipton, West Midlands.
The permit from the Environment Agency is for a hazardous waste installation primarily involved in the treatment and processing of lead-acid batteries.
Technology Minerals said that critically the permit lays the legal foundation to complete the sub-licences that will enable operations to commence at Tipton.
Recyclus' ambition is to increase battery recycling from an estimated 16,000 tonnes in the first full year of production, to circa 80,000 tonnes by 2027.
The Tipton plant is designed to process up to 12 tonnes an hour of lead-acid batteries and has a fully automated system.
Recyclus also has successfully completed stage one of the audit process for ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 process quality certifications, the statement added.
Robin Brundle, Technology Minerals’ chairman, added: "The granting of the EA permit is a crucial step forward.
“The team has been preparing to ensure that we are positioned to ramp up production when the site becomes fully operational.
“The opening of this plant at Tipton is a key milestone for us at Recyclus and our strategy to open ten plants over the next six years."