A MINERAL exploration and development company has announced details of a community presentation event relating to its Cross Lanes Lithium in Geothermal Waters Project, near Chacewater. 

Cornish Lithium is inviting local people to attend a presentation at Chacewater Village Hall, on Friday, February 16, between 5pm and 7pm.

This event will offer residents the opportunity to learn about the potential for the environmentally-responsible extraction of lithium from the waters that run deep beneath the surface of Cross Lanes, following positive test results from Cornish Lithium’s recent exploration borehole at this site.

By 2030, the UK is expected to require c.80,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent for electric car batteries. Lithium is therefore fundamental to the nation’s electric car future and the resurgence of the UK’s automotive industry as well as Cornwall’s 4,000-year mining heritage. 

It is also used in laptops and smartphones – the everyday electronic devices upon which most of us rely – as well as in energy storage batteries utilised alongside renewable energy projects.

Cornish Lithium’s chief operating officer, Pat Forward said: “At Cross Lanes, we have established that lithium-enriched geothermal waters circulate naturally within the permeable geological structures that underlie the area. We have successfully drilled and tested an exploration borehole and now wish to move to the next stage of development by drilling production diameter boreholes and installing a geothermal lithium production plant.

“We plan to selectively extract lithium from the geothermal water using environmentally-responsible Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies to demonstrate the viability of commercial lithium extraction. We look forward to sharing our development plans with the local community so please come along, meet the Cornish Lithium team, ask questions and share your thoughts.” 

Those who would like to attend are encouraged to register their interest on the Cornish Lithium website at cornishlithium.com/crosslanes where further details about the project can also be found.

Fortnightly community drop-in sessions will also be held at the Methodist Church Rooms, Twelveheads, Truro TR4 8SJ on February 20, March 5, March 19 and April 2 between 3pm and 5pm.

• If anyone unable to attend Cornish Lithium’s  presentation event or community drop-in sessions and would like to ask a question about the Cross Lanes Project, email [email protected] or call 01326 640640.