Cornish Lithium is preparing to launch the UK’s first lithium hydroxide demonstration plant near St Austell, Cornwall. The £15 million facility aims to produce lithium hydroxide—a crucial component for electric vehicle (EV) batteries—by extracting lithium from granite sourced from an old China clay pit.
The company plans to produce 10,000 tonnes of sustainable domestic lithium annually by 2027, significantly reducing the UK’s reliance on imports from countries like China. Jeremy Wrathall, Chief Executive of Cornish Lithium, highlighted that Cornwall holds the largest lithium resource in Europe, with the potential to supply over half of the UK’s EV industry needs.
A plaque-unveiling ceremony is scheduled at the Trelavour Hard Rock project. The demonstration plant has received funding from the National Wealth Fund, The Energy and Minerals Group, TechMet, and the UK Government’s automotive transformation fund.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds commented, “This is great news for Cornish Lithium and will not only support high-skilled jobs in the South West but give a major boost to our critical minerals supply chains for the long term.”
Source: BBC
