A PIONEERING mineral exploration and development company in Cornwall has reported that it is continuing to make significant strides towards commercial lithium production in the county.

Cornish Lithium is working towards full-scale extraction of the material, which is viewed as critically important for use in electric vehicle batteries, grid-scale electricity storage, rechargeable industrial batteries and battery-related defence applications, from geothermal waters and hard rock in historic mining districts.

The first half of 2025 has seen the appointment of Jamie Airnes as the company’s chief executive, the elevation of founder Jeremy Wrathall to the role of executive chairman, planning permission being granted to build the UK’s first commercial geothermal lithium production facility at the Cross Lanes Lithium Project, near Chacewater, and the acquisition of the intellectual property relating to the lithium extraction process which is being used at the Trelavour Lithium Project near St Austell.

Mr Wrathall said: “Cornish Lithium has made progress at pace. 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.”

Cornish Lithium says that with an in-depth knowledge of the extractives industry, Mr Airnes has a proven track record of successful project delivery and business growth which will prove invaluable as the company scales up its geothermal portfolio and the Trelavour Lithium Project in the Clay Country.

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 permission was granted in March of this year 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 for the production of lithium compounds. Assuming these phases are successful, the company intends to then construct a full-scale commercial processing plant at the Cross Lanes site.

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

The Trelavour Lithium Project is viewed as nationally significant by the government.