Is a domestic lithium supply chain a unicorn or a real opportunity? What are the cost considerations for processing it? Where does the circular economy fit in? How can Cornwall drive change by becoming the UK’s battery metals hub for the electric car revolution?
These were just some of the big questions that were posed at the second Investing in Cornish Mining Conference, which was held at National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth recently.
Attracting a capacity audience of high-profile delegates that included representatives from operational mines, exploration companies and the mining supply chain as well as UK Government officials, investors and academics, the companies in Cornwall that are leading the Duchy’s green industrial revolution presented the many and varied opportunities for the region to maximise the potential of its mineral wealth.
Cornish Lithium’s founder and CEO, Jeremy Wrathall, said: “With Cornwall’s proud 4,000-year mining heritage and the insatiable global demand for technology metals such as lithium, copper, tin, tungsten and cobalt, the future is bright if we can collaboratively harness the investment in infrastructure to accelerate the creation of an environmentally-responsible mineral extraction industry for the 21st century and beyond.
“This conference highlighted Cornwall’s abundant mineralisation; provided updates on the progress of current projects; illustrated the potential for investment and demonstrated the critical importance of Cornwall’s geological advantage to the UK economy as it seeks to secure a domestic supply chain of battery metals and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
The Conference also included a gala dinner at Pendennis Castle, and site visits to Cornish Lithium’s United Downs Project, Cornish Metals’ South Crofty Project and Cornish Tin’s Wheal Vor Project.
