Mineral improvement firm Cornish Lithium introduced on 24 October that it has began manufacturing of refined lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) utilizing lithium extracted from granite in Cornwall, in what seems to be a primary for the UK.
The group has produced the demonstration-scale samples at its Trelavour plant, a brownfield industrial website in Cornwall, utilizing materials mined from a repurposed former china clay quarry, and a proprietary low-carbon processing expertise.
LHM is a key uncooked materials for lithium-ion batteries, which proceed to be foundational in modern-day electronics, and methods reminiscent of electrical autos (EVs), smartphones and power storage.
Geopolitical developments have heightened the urgency of lithium-sourcing in lots of components of the world in recent times, and intensified the race to develop a homegrown lithium business within the UK.
Cornwall is claimed to be residence to one of many largest lithium deposits in Europe. Cornish Lithium’s publicity says the realm has sufficient lithium to energy at the very least 50% of all EVs anticipated to be produced within the UK by 2030.
Commenting on the announcement, Cornish Lithium CEO Jamie Airnes stated:
“It is a watershed second for the UK’s industrial capabilities and financial resilience. For the primary time ever as a rustic, we have now now demonstrated the flexibility to supply one of many uncooked supplies on which all of us more and more rely. It’s testomony to the energy of our analysis, our progressive strategy, and the dedication of the Cornish Lithium group.
“This once-in-a-generation breakthrough marks the most recent stage in Cornish Lithium’s journey to safe a home provide of lithium for the UK automotive and battery industries, securing the UK’s future jobs, lithium provide chain and financial progress.”
The refined lithium hydroxide samples have been produced at Cornish Lithium’s demonstration plant, which includes all processing phases together with crushing and grinding the rock, separating the lithium-bearing minerals, and processing them to supply a refined LHM.
Launched a yr in the past, the plant makes use of patented, low-carbon processing expertise which the group stated was developed over a few years of intensive analysis and improvement. In early 2025, Cornish Lithium acquired full IP and related patents from Australian firm Lepidico. “The Lepidico course of has proven to be extremely efficient and has now been totally optimised by enhancements made on the demonstration plant,” stated Cornish Lithium, which plans to market the expertise internationally.
The development of the hydrometallurgical part of the plant was supported by funding Innovate UK by way of the Automotive Transformation Fund’s (ATF) Scale up Readiness Validation competitors (SuRV).
Cornish Lithium stated it plans to construct a full-scale lithium processing and refining plant with an annual capability of as much as 10,000 tonnes of LHM, which is anticipated to begin full-scale manufacturing in 2029.
Following the announcement of £35m of funding from institutional buyers, the Nationwide Wealth Fund (NWF) and TechMet, the group stated it has additionally launched a brand new crowdfunding marketing campaign to permit its wider group of shareholders and supporters the possibility to put money into the subsequent stage of progress. The marketing campaign is hosted on the Crowdcube funding platform, right here.
