Imerys British Lithium Newsletter | Autumn 2023
Growth for Cornwall Why is lithium important? Lithium is an essential element needed for the production of batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, as they are known, are needed for everything from electric cars and bikes to mobile mobile phones and power tools. Globally, we all need to reduce our carbon dioxide output in order to combat climate change. Switching to battery-powered, electric vehicles and generating more renewable power is part of that. Our government has stated that all new cars must be battery-powered by 2035 – so demand for the lithium needed for these cars is growing very quickly. Lithium occurs naturally in some granites in parts of Cornwall and we have developed a patented, method to extract it. We are already producing high-quality lithium carbonate at our pilot plant just outside of Roche. This is a huge opportunity for Cornwall, which has mining embedded into its culture and history. By combining the extensive mining knowledge of Imerys with the newly developed technology of British Lithium, we are striving to bring substantial local investment and employment opportunities.
“Our operational pilot plant and world-class
In a nutshell
team of scientists, allow us to continually refine and demonstrate our unique patented processes. We are extracting lithium from Cornish mica-granite – on existing mining land,
• Modern technology needs lithium-ion batteries • Annual IBL lithium carbonate
using sustainable methods, minimising transportation
production target – 21,000 tonnes
and maximising use of local renewable energy.”
per year, by the end of the decade
Andrew Smith CEO Imerys British Lithium (IBL)
• Enough to produce 500,000 electric car batteries every year