The Trelavour pit, operated by Cornish Lithium, receives special status to enhance the UK’s electric vehicle ambitions.
- Cornish Lithium aims to supply 25,000 tonnes of lithium per year by 2030 to support domestic EV battery production.
- The site has been classified as a ‘project of national significance,’ accelerating the planning approval with ministerial oversight.
- Lithium from Cornwall could reduce UK reliance on imports, lowering both costs and carbon emissions.
- UK’s electric vehicle quotas are set to surge, heightening the demand for a reliable lithium supply chain.
Cornish Lithium’s Trelavour pit has been granted special status, signifying its pivotal role in supporting the United Kingdom’s electric vehicle ambitions. By achieving this designation, the planning process is expedited under the oversight of government ministers. Developing a domestic lithium supply is essential for the UK as it aims to supply 25,000 tonnes annually by 2030, significantly contributing to the targets set for locally produced electric vehicle batteries.
Lithium, a vital component for battery production, is crucial as the demand for electric vehicles in the UK continues to rise. With considerable lithium deposits located within the country’s granite rock formations, Cornwall is well-positioned to become the nucleus of the UK’s lithium mining industry. Jeremy Wrathall, CEO of Cornish Lithium, remarked on the project’s importance, emphasising the UK’s transition from relying on imported lithium to maximising local resources. “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,” he stated.
The decision to upgrade the Trelavour pit as a ‘project of national significance’ promises to streamline planning approvals, thereby reducing the dependency on imported lithium from regions like Australia, South America, and China. This shift is anticipated to cut carbon emissions and lower logistical costs associated with overseas sourcing. Notably, the Trelavour site plans an annual output of 10,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide, with an additional 15,000 tonnes sourced from geothermal waters in Cornwall.
The UK’s push toward electric vehicles is intensifying, with quotas projected to rise from 22% of all new cars sold in 2024 to 100% by 2035. Given the current count of over 1.2 million electric vehicles on UK roads, this trend will undoubtedly amplify the demand for lithium, anticipated to meet over half of the 80,000 tonnes needed by the UK’s car industry by 2030. This initiative not only serves the automotive sector but also reinforces the broader utilisation of lithium in devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and critical medical equipment like heart pacemakers.
As the UK car manufacturing industry represents a crucial export sector, primarily to the EU, cultivating a local lithium supply chain is seen as a strategic move. This endeavour is designed to ensure the industry’s sustainability amidst growing international competition and stricter environmental targets.
The development of a domestic lithium supply chain in Cornwall is seen as a strategic imperative for supporting the UK’s electric vehicle goals and reducing reliance on global sources.
