YLB Visits Watercycle to Review Technological Advancements
Highlights
- President of Bolivian state-owned lithium company visits Watercycle’s Headquarters in Manchester
- Latest results shared on lithium recovery from Bolivian brines by Watercycle's technology
(22 July 2025, Manchester UK) - Watercycle Technologies Ltd (‘Watercycle’ or ‘the Company’), a UK-based sustainability start-up developing high-yield, low-cost mineral recovery systems, welcomed the Bolivian delegation from Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (‘YLB’) to its Manchester offices and operational facilities in Runcorn.
Delegation at Watercycle's Head Offices in Manchester. From L to R: Christopher Lofthouse (Department for Business and Trade), Mathew Rockey (WT, COO), Phil Kemp (WT, Board Advisor), Dr Seb Leaper (WT, CEO), Omar Alarcon (YLB, Executive President), Alfonso Berardo Pérez Valda (YLB, Head of Projects and Contracts), Dr Ahmed Abdelkarim (WT, CTO), Kate Lawlor (WT, CFO).
In March of this year, Watercycle was shortlisted by YLB to demonstrate its proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC™) technology for the recovery of lithium from Bolivian brines. The visit aimed to discuss the technology and share the Company’s latest results from the pilot testing of brines from sampling wells in Uyuni and Pastos Grandes salt flats.
The delegation led by the Executive President of YLB, M.Sc. Ing. Omar Alarcon and accompanied by Head of Projects and Contracts, Ing. Alfonso Berardo Pérez Valda toured the Company’s operational facilities in Runcorn to see the DLEC™ system in operation. The visit included a tour of the Company’s laboratories in its newly opened Research & Development facility.
Talks delivered by Responsible Mining Lead, Christopher Lofthouse from the Department for Business and Trade presented the UK's Critical Minerals Strategy, highlighting ways the UK Government is strengthening trade relationships and supporting UK companies to collaborate internationally in the critical minerals sector. Also in attendance were Principal Groundwater Modeller, Dr Andrew Hughes and Principal Mineral Commodity Specialist, Dr Evi Petavratzi from the British Geological Survey, who shared research data collected from multiple lithium brine deposits in Bolivia and the wider region
Responsible for the world's largest lithium deposits, Bolivia's YLB aims to significantly increase annual lithium carbonate exports to meet growing global demand. YLB holds a unique opportunity to pilot advanced methods for brine processing, such as Watercycle’s, to achieve water-efficient, economically feasible and eco-conscious recovery of lithium. By doing so, Bolivia is positioned to establish an environmentally secure supply of the critical mineral required to power the technologies to meet global Net-Zero targets.
Dr Seb Leaper, CEO of Watercycle, said: “It was a real pleasure to host the YLB delegation, and we are very grateful that they took the time to see us. While lithium prices today are historically low, the rising demand is inexorable. Current supply is insufficient to meet near-term future demand and so the timing for YLB to be identifying next-generation lithium extraction technologies couldn’t be better. Driven by the rise of electric vehicles, which a growing number of consumers recognise as a cost-competitive, pollution-free and low-maintenance alternative to petrol or diesel cars, supplies of minerals like lithium must increase, but they must do so sustainably, with water-efficiency and circularity in mind. Building technologies that enable this to happen is our raison d’être, and we are extremely excited for what the future holds with YLB in this regard.”
Delegation pictured with Duncan Ivison and James Baker during visit to the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC).
The tour concluded with visits to Manchester University’s state-of-the-art industrial research facilities at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC). CEO of Graphene@Manchester James Baker, attended alongside the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Duncan Ivison, to showcase how Manchester's institutions support an innovation-led approach to transform research across all sectors into impact through commercialisation. Recently ranked first for positive social and environmental impact in the UK and Europe, the University of Manchester first supported Watercycle Technologies to spin out its sustainability-driven research. Now principally supported by venture capitalist firm Par Equity, whose direction, alongside founding investors, has enabled Watercycle to refine and plan for the deployment of its technology, supporting the Company’s commitment to sustainable critical mineral production.
Dr Elizabeth Young, Investment Manager at Par Equity, said: "We're proud to support Watercycle Technologies as they bring cutting-edge, water-efficient mineral recovery solutions to the global stage. This collaboration with YLB is a fantastic example of how their technology can have far-reaching international impact. At Par Equity, we've worked closely with the team not just through investment, but by opening our network to help them build the right partnerships through a focus on strategy and governance. Watercycle Technologies is exactly the kind of mission-driven, science-led business we're excited to be backing. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact their technology will have on sustainable mineral recovery globally."
ENDS
Photographs at Watercycle Offices by Clicked by Kate
About Watercycle Technologies - www.watercycletechnologies.com
Watercycle Technologies is a UK-based climate-tech company pioneering sustainable and circular critical mineral recovery essential for a Net Zero future, creating clean drinkable water in the process. It is initially focused on two areas critical to lithium production and creating a circular economy for the global energy transition, Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC™) and the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries and black mass (shredded batteries). Watercycle Technologies’ scalable, modular technology delivers dramatic reductions in costs and has a reduced environmental impact compared to other processes available. Its patented technology can also be applied to the extraction of other critical minerals and metals from all types of water, including wastewater.
For media enquiries about Watercycle Technologies please contact Heloise Grandjouan at heloise.grandjouan@watercycletechnologies.com
About Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos YLB – www.ylb.gob.bo
Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos is Bolivia’s state-owned company responsible for the country’s lithium deposits. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, YLB is involved in all aspects of the production chain of evaporitic resources, for the exploration, research, development, production, industrialization and commercialization of salts, derivatives and intermediates.
About Par Equity – www.parequity.com
Par Equity is a leading venture capital firm based in Edinburgh and Leeds, which invests in innovative technology companies with high growth potential, across the North of the UK. Since it was founded in 2008, Par Equity has invested over £185m across 79 companies, catalysing a further £307m of capital from third-party investors. Par Equity has backed and exited high profile names such as Current Health and DeltaDNA, which have helped build an impressive track record across 31 realisations to date.
A certified B-Corp, Par Equity partners with early-stage companies, operating B2B business models and with strong IP. Many of these companies are innovating in the fields of health tech, climate tech and industrial tech, often driven by new technologies such as robotics, photonics, advanced materials and artificial intelligence. Supporting Par’s successful investment strategy across the north of the UK includes 15 investment professionals, 10 support staff, 40 operating partners and 240 investor network members.
Par Equity recently launched Par Equity Ventures I LP, a £100m Fund to support companies in the North of the UK to scale faster at Series A rounds and beyond, accelerating innovation and job creation in the region.
For more information, please visit https://www.parequity.com or contact parequity@wordsandpixels.co.