Cornish Lithium, first to produce UK refined lithium hydroxide

Cornish Lithium has become the first company to produce lithium hydroxide mined and refined in the UK.

The lithium was extracted from granite in Cornwall and refined at the company’s demonstration plant in St Dennis.

Lithium hydroxide is a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and grid-scale energy storage.

Jamie Airnes, CEO of Cornish Lithium, said:

“This is a watershed moment for the UK’s industrial capabilities and economic resilience.

“For the first time ever as a country, we have now demonstrated the ability to produce one of the raw materials on which we all increasingly rely.

“It is testament to the strength of our research, our innovative approach and the dedication of the Cornish Lithium team.”

The refined lithium hydroxide monohydrate was produced at the company’s Trelavour demonstration plant, which uses patented, low-carbon processing technology.

The facility incorporates all processing stages from crushing and grinding the rock, separation of the lithium-bearing minerals and processing of these minerals to produce a refined lithium hydroxide monohydrate.

Cornwall is home to the largest lithium deposits in Europe and has enough lithium to power at least 50 per cent of all EVs expected to be produced in the UK by 2030.

Following the announcement, Cornish Lithium has launched a crowdfunding campaign on the Crowdcube platform to allow the public and existing supporters to invest in the company’s next phase of growth.

Jeremy Wrathall, founder and executive chairman of Cornish Lithium, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to not just invest in Cornish Lithium but to support the development of a resilient and responsible critical minerals supply chain for the UK.

“The work we are doing is vital for the UK’s national security and economic growth, and it is encouraging to see that the appetite to help us succeed in our ambitions has already been overwhelmingly positive.”

The company plans to build a full-scale processing facility capable of producing up to 10,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year, with production targeted to begin in 2029.

The crowdfunding campaign follows a recent £35 million investment from the National Wealth Fund and TechMet, which will help advance the company’s projects toward commercial production.

Source: The Packet