Cornish Lithium has been granted licences to explore for lithium within the geothermal waters in areas off the north and south Cornish coasts.
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES
The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed and most of the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, granted the rights in the Minerals Licensing Round.
Yesterday’s decision follows a two-year tender process, which began in 2018, and a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) that ended in December 2020.
Cornish Lithium will now begin desk-based exploration to identify potential geological targets for research. Studies, designs and extensive consultation will take at least four years before physical exploration begins.
Founder and chief executive Jeremy Wrathall said the company’s exploration work across Cornwall indicated that the geological structures containing lithium-enriched geothermal waters continued offshore.
“The opportunity to produce lithium from geothermal waters in Cornwall, using a low impact and environmentally responsible process, offers great potential for the establishment of a new industry in Cornwall.”