UK battery start-up Britishvolt could run out of money and go into administration after the government rejected a £30m advance in funding.
The firm wants to build a factory in Blyth in Northumberland which would build batteries for electric vehicles.
The government, which had championed the development, had committed a total £100m to Britishvolt for the project.
It is understood the firm wanted to draw down nearly a third of the funding early but the government refused.
It has left the £3.8bn project, which has already been delayed several times, in doubt.