Lithium battery manufacturing factory in Huaibei, eastern China's Anhui province – STR/AFP via Getty Images A British start-up is in talks to build one of Europe’s first lithium refineries in Teesside after securing support from a metals trading giant. Green Lithium’s refinery would produce tens of thousands of tonnes of battery-grade lithium per year, helping to reduce reliance on China for a material that is essential to electric cars. The firm is backed by Trafigura, the world’s biggest private metals trader, which has taken a stake in the business and will help to obtain supplies of unrefined “feedstock”. Bosses at…