Lithium project wins share of £9m funding for greener transport

A PROJECT which could see a fullscale lithium mine operating in Cornwall within five years has won a share of a £9.4million Government investment into new battery and electric vehicle technology, writes William Telford.

Cornish Lithium, which is looking to create a lithium extraction plant in the Duchy, is among 22 studies sharing the cash in a bid to develop innovative automotive technology, including hydrogen vehicles, and support the Government’s plan to phase out sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and Build Back Greener following the pandemic.

Cornish Lithium’s Trelavour Hard Rock Lithium Scoping Study will assess the feasibility of developing a sustainable UK supply chain through the construction of an extraction plant that will produce low-carbon lithium hydroxide from a hard rock source in St Austell. Lithium hydroxide is an essential part of vehicle battery production.

In February 2021 Cornish Lithium began drilling for the precious metal at its Trelavour hard rock lithium project. Two drill rigs are expected to be on site for weeks with almost 1,500 metres of diamond and 2,500 metres of “reverse circulation” drilling planned. At the same time the company is continuing to advance its project to extract lithium contained within geothermal waters. It has begun work on the Governmentfunded pilot lithium extraction plant at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project, which will enable it to trial extraction technologies. The Cornwall project has been included in the list of 22 studies alongside a plant to build specialised magnets for electric vehicle motors and lightweight hydrogen storage for cars.