SIGNIFICANT steps forward are being reported by a mineral exploration and development company regarding a pioneering project based in the Clay Country.

Cornish Lithium, which wants to provide lithium for electric car batteries, has published an update on its Trelavour Hard Rock Project, at Trelavour Downs, near St Dennis.

The company has hired an additional 21 workers so far this year to construct and operate a demonstration plant at the site with another two jobs set to be created.

The company says: “Tremendous progress has been made with the construction of the demonstration plant at the Trelavour Hard Rock Project.

“The £9-million demonstration plant comprises a concentrator section, which produces a lithium mica concentrate, and a hydrometallurgical section that will produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

“The hydrometallurgical section of the demonstration plant has been partially funded by a grant from the UK government via the Automotive Transformation Fund Scale Up Readiness Validation Programme.

“Commissioning of the entire plant is on track to be completed in July.

“The development of the demonstration plant has greatly added to the process engineering and design – and will inform decisions to be made on the design and construction of a full-scale commercial plant.”

The demonstration plant will be using low-carbon emission technology to extract lithium.

The plant is planned to initially operate for 3,600 hours spread across 15 separate continuous campaigns. During these campaigns, the hydrometallurgical plant will process 15kg of mica concentrate per hour and produce more than three tonnes of lithium hydroxide overall.

A state-of-the-art laboratory has been constructed as part of the project and the plant will enable the training of staff to aid the transition towards full-scale commercial production.

A dedicated visitor centre has also been built so that the facility can be viewed by a range of stakeholders, including members of the community.

The company continues to undertake a programme of community engagement, with a number of presentation evenings and community drop-in sessions organised. A community liaison group has been formed to provide a forum for the community to discover more about the project and to provide feedback.

Meanwhlle, the company says a geothermal exploration team has drilled and tested an exploration borehole to a depth of 1,200m at the project with valuable geological information being obtained to help the scheme move forward.

Cornish Lithium chief executive Jeremy Wrathall said: “I am delighted with the strong start to 2024. Following our landmark fundraise in August 2023, Cornish Lithium is poised to deliver a number of exciting project milestones over the course of 2024, including the commissioning of our demonstration plant at Trelavour.

“We have maintained the pace and momentum of project development across both our geothermal and hard rock lithium projects and are now making significant progress towards key commercial development decisions in 2025.

“Critical minerals are of ever-increasing importance globally and Cornish Lithium is right at the centre of the UK’s efforts to build a domestic supply of lithium and other metals which are essential to the energy transition.”

Earlier this year, the company announced a number of recipients of grants from the Cornish Lithium Community Fund. Awards totalling £17,775 were made to 13 organisations through the fund, which has been established in association with the Cornwall Community Foundation.

The fund supports the work of local clubs, charities and activity groups that seek to make a positive difference in Clay Country areas as well as in the Camborne-Redruth district.

Among those to receive grants were St Stephens Community Centre, St Dennis Art Group, Bugle Library of Things and Roche Pre-School Playgroup.

Now Cornish Lithium is inviting new applications for grants from the fund.

The deadline for applications for the new round of funding is Monday, June 10.

Projects that aim to enhance skills and education, upgrade social welfare facilities, support industrial heritage and mining history, improve environmental impacts or promote health and wellbeing are invited to apply.

Mr Wrathall said: “We are delighted to be opening up this latest round of funding from the Cornish Lithium Community Fund.

“As a Cornish company, we are proud to support organisations that benefit the communities where we operate and, with the expanding footprint of our operations, this funding round is expected to be the largest we have undertaken both in terms of size and areas covered.”

Tamara Sherston-Baker, the development director with the Cornwall Community Fund, said: “It is hugely rewarding to see how local projects are benefiting from the funding from Cornwall Lithium, which is helping to bring positive change across communities .

“Most recently £17,775 was awarded to 13 local organisations in Cornwall. We look forward to receiving applications from groups across eligible areas and distributing this next wave of funding.”

For more information and to apply for a grant from the Cornish Lithium Community Fund, see the Cornwall Community Fund website, www.cornwallcommunityfoundation.com