Cornish Lithium has opened the UK’s first low-emission lithium hydroxide demonstration plant as part of its Trelavour Hard Rock project in Cornwall.

The project aims to produce 10,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide by 2027.

When combined with Cornish Lithium’s geothermal lithium projects, the company plans to produce a total of 25,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2030. This would enable Cornish Lithium to supply around 25% of the lithium needed by UK industry.

Currently, the UK imports 100% of its lithium.

“Our demonstration processing plant allows us to test and confirm the viability of extracting lithium from hard rock in Cornwall before scaling up to full-size production,” the company said in a statement.

The facility processes lithium-enriched granite, mined from a repurposed China clay pit, to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide using low-carbon processing technology—all on a single site.

Cornish Lithium estimates that the facility will contribute at least £800 million ($1 billion) in gross value added to the local economy and create over 300 jobs for the community.

Source: MINING.COM – Read More