capital · May 21, 2026
Orbia secures £1.4 million UK government grant for first graphite recycling project
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Orbia’s Fluor and Energy Materials business secured a £1.4 million (US$1.87 million) grant from the UK government on or around May 19, 2026, to launch the country’s first graphite recycling project for lower-carbon EV batteries and net-zero goals. The multi-phase pilot operates at kilogram scale using multi-step purification with hydrofluoric acid on black-mass residue to recover, purify, and upcycle graphite into ultra-high-purity material comparable to virgin supply. Global Director of New Business Development John Jaddou called the investment a significant milestone for domestic circular supply chains and skilled jobs in electrified mobility. CEO Ian Constance of Advanced Propulsion Centre UK highlighted how DRIVE35 grants convert innovation into industrial capability. The project forms part of the UK’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, targets installation and outputs in late 2026, and builds on Orbia’s Chester R&D centre with preliminary assessments showing recycled graphite generates