A company planning to mass-produce batteries for electric cars in the UK has received government funding for its proposed factory – six months after the plan was first supported.
Britishvolt will build the Northumberland plant and create 3,000 jobs.
The BBC understands that Whitehall has pledged around £100m through the Automotive Transformation Fund.
It comes weeks after Boris Johnson was questioned by MP Ian Lavery as to why the project has yet to receive any money.
Asked about the Prime Minister’s questions on July 6, Mr Johnson hit back, saying a letter offering a “fundamental offer of support” had been sent last night.
Britishvolt has announced it has received government confirmation that funding is ready.
The £3.8bn facility, which is being built in Cambois on the site of the former Blyth power station, is also backed by investors Tritax and Abrdn, which should free up around £1.7bn in private money.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng also confirmed that a final grant offer had been made to Britishvolt.
Isobel Sheldon, Britishvolt’s Chief Strategy Officer, said the funding is “important to show that the UK Government is confident that we will deliver on our plans”.
She said the investment would directly create more than 3,000 jobs and play a key role in helping Britain reach its net-zero target by 2050.
At full production, enough battery cells will be produced for more than 300,000 electric vehicle battery packs per year, Britishvolt said.
Executive Chairman Peter Rolton previously said he wants all new jobs at the plant to go to the people who live in the area and the company is establishing a training center in nearby Ashington.
The first operational batteries would roll off the production line in 2024, he added.
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