Cornish Lithium’s Trelavour pit has been granted ‘project of national significance’ status by Angela Rayner, accelerating its development to meet the UK’s burgeoning demand for battery-grade lithium.
The Trelavour site, operated by Cornish Lithium, is projected to supply 25,000 tonnes of lithium per year by 2030, significantly contributing to the production of British-made electric vehicles with domestically sourced batteries. Lithium, a critical component in battery production, will play a crucial role in addressing the increasing demand for electric vehicles in the UK.
The decision by Angela Rayner to upgrade the project’s status will expedite the planning approval process, with ministers now overseeing approval instead of local authorities. Cornwall’s rich lithium deposits, found in the same granite rock that once supported the county’s china clay industry, have the potential to make the region the centre of the UK’s lithium mining sector.
According to Jeremy Wrathall, CEO of Cornish Lithium, this development is pivotal. He stated, ‘This marks another stage in the UK’s journey from relying on imported lithium to maximising the potential of the industrial scale of lithium that already lies beneath our feet at existing brownfield sites in Cornwall.’
Establishing a domestic lithium supply could lessen the UK’s dependence on imports from regions like Australia, South America, and China, thereby reducing carbon emissions and logistical costs associated with overseas sourcing.
The Trelavour pit aims to produce 10,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, with an additional 15,000 tonnes expected to be sourced from geothermal waters in other parts of Cornwall. As the UK anticipates a significant rise in electric vehicle quotas—from 22% of all new cars sold in 2024 to 80% by 2030, and reaching 100% by 2035—the demand for lithium is projected to surge.
Currently, there are over 1.2 million electric vehicles on UK roads, comprising about 3.5% of the total number of cars. This figure is expected to grow to 20% by 2030, intensifying the need for lithium. Cornish Lithium’s initiative could potentially satisfy over half of the UK car industry’s lithium needs, estimated at 80,000 tonnes by 2030.
This domestic supply chain would not only support the UK’s electric vehicle targets but also underpin the broader utilisation of lithium in other technologies, including rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, and critical medical devices such as heart pacemakers. The UK’s car manufacturing industry, a vital export sector particularly to the EU, would benefit strategically from a local lithium supply chain amidst rising global competition and environmental targets.
The special status granted to Cornish Lithium’s Trelavour pit signifies a strategic advancement in the UK’s journey towards a self-sufficient, sustainable electric vehicle future. This initiative is set to play a critical role in meeting the nation’s evolving industrial and environmental goals.