Cornish Lithium continues to make significant strides towards commercial lithium production in the UK

Cornish Lithium, the innovative mineral exploration and development company that is pioneering the clean extraction of lithium in the UK, has made significant strides towards achieving commercial production of lithium in Cornwall during the first half of 2025.

Cornish Lithium, the innovative mineral exploration and development company that is pioneering the clean extraction of lithium in the UK, has made significant strides towards achieving commercial production of lithium in Cornwall during the first half of 2025.

Major milestones reached during the first half of the year include:

· The appointment of Jamie Airnes as CEO to bolster the operational capability of the senior management team;

· The elevation of Founder, Jeremy Wrathall, to the role of Executive Chairman to oversee strategy;

· Hosting the Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Sarah Jones MP, at the Trelavour Lithium Project;

· Planning permission granted to build the UK’s first commercial geothermal lithium production facility at the company’s Cross Lanes Lithium Project near Chacewater; and

· The acquisition of the intellectual property pertaining to the lithium extraction process which is being used at the Trelavour Lithium Project.

Founder and Executive Chairman, Jeremy Wrathall, said: “Cornish Lithium has made progress at pace to achieve significant milestones across its portfolio of projects during the first six months of 2025.

“A key highlight is the appointment of energy sector leader, Jamie Airnes, as our new Chief Executive Officer. This marks an important step in strengthening the capabilities of our senior leadership team as we transition from research and development to full-scale operations.

“We look forward to reviewing the Government’s industrial strategy, particularly given the strong support we’ve received to date. Our focus remains on securing the domestic lithium supply chain while unlocking jobs and driving growth in Cornwall. As a key supplier of the critical minerals essential to the UK’s clean energy transition, we will continue to support the development of a domestic battery industry and help the county realise its full economic potential.”

New Chief Executive Officer

The company has bolstered the skills of its senior management team with the appointment of energy sector leader, Jamie Airnes, as its new CEO.

Cornish Lithium’s Founder, Jeremy Wrathall, has been elevated to the role of Executive Chairman, where he will remain firmly at the helm of the business to oversee corporate strategy and development.

Jamie Airnes brings more than 25 years’ experience of large corporations and start-ups in the UK and internationally. With an in-depth knowledge of the extractives industry, he has a proven track record of successful project delivery and business growth, which will prove invaluable as Cornish Lithium scales up its geothermal portfolio and Trelavour Lithium Project.

Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project

Following the successful drilling and testing of an exploration borehole in 2023, the company applied for planning consent from Cornwall Council to establish the UK’s first commercial geothermal lithium production facility at Cross Lanes. Planning consent was granted in March 2025 and the first phase of the project will involve drilling and testing two 2,000-metre-deep production-scale geothermal wells with one well being used to extract lithium enriched geothermal water and the second to reinject water once the lithium has been extracted. These production-scale wells will also allow the company to assess the potential for harnessing heat from the same geothermal waters to provide renewable energy for local homes and businesses.

In the second phase of the project, a temporary demonstration plant will be constructed and operated to validate the production of lithium compounds utilising state-of-the-art Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. Assuming these first phases are successful, the company intends to then construct a full-scale commercial processing plant at the Cross Lanes site.

The geothermal team is now working through fulfilling the planning pre-conditions, which are expected to be fulfilled by the end of the year.

Geothermal exploration

Cornish Lithium has also drilled exploration boreholes at Tolgus, near Redruth and Besore Farm, near Threemilestone on the outskirts of Truro.

Trelavour Lithium Project

The Trelavour Lithium Project is based in china clay country, near St Austell.

The project is deemed as nationally significant by the UK Government in recognition of the scale and importance of the project given its potential to drive economic growth, both regionally and nationally, via the extraction of a strategically important critical mineral.

Since launching the UK’s first low-emission, lithium hydroxide demonstration plant at the site in October 2024, work has been focused on commissioning the facility to test and refine the lithium extraction process, and to create samples for potential customers

Acquisition of low carbon processing technology

The recent acquisition of cutting-edge processing technology from Australian group, Lepidico, will enable Cornish Lithium to extract, refine and process battery-grade lithium hydroxide at its Trelavour Lithium Project but also to potentially licence the technology to other mining companies worldwide.

The company has been evaluating and refining Lepidico’s technology under licence since 2021 and now owns sole rights to the intellectual property and associated patents of its lithium extraction process.

The company also intends to evaluate this technology’s efficacy on alternative ore sources with a view to licensing this technology globally under its own brand.

Government minister visit

In May, Cornish Lithium welcomed Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Sarah Jones MP, to its Trelavour Lithium Project.

During her visit, Minister Jones highlighted Cornish Lithium’s key role in helping to secure a supply of lithium in the UK, and how strong collaboration between government and industry is more vital than ever.

The visit was an opportunity to showcase Cornish Lithium’s state-of-the-art processing plant, share its vision for responsible lithium production and introduce the people behind the work.

The Minister highlighted the importance of engaging with key industry stakeholders as the Critical Minerals Strategy is developed. The strategy aims to create a secure domestic supply chain of minerals like lithium and tin, which are used in the production of batteries that power smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles.

Community engagement

Proactive community engagement underpins Cornish Lithium’s portfolio of projects and remains a high priority.

Whether sponsoring local festivals and book launches, attending careers fairs, welcoming schools and colleges into its Visitor Centre, backing young adventurers to complete the Ten Tors Challenge, participating in village spring cleans, planting trees to encourage wildlife, or staging drop-in sessions, Cornish Lithium is passionate about the people and places in its project areas.

In 2024, the company awarded £34,700 to 25 organisations through its Community Fund, established in collaboration with the Cornwall Community Foundation.

The Cornish Lithium Community Fund awards grants of between £250 and £2,500 to support the work of local clubs, charities and activity groups that seek to make a positive difference in the company’s project areas. These currently include Gwennap, Chacewater, St Day, Carharrack and St Agnes Blackwater parishes; China Clay Area and Luxulyan Community Area Partnership region, and the Redruth Tolgus area. The next round of grant awardees will be announced in late summer.