Cornish Lithium, the pioneering mineral exploration and development company, headquartered at the Tremough Innovation Centre in Penryn, is offering a further opportunity for residents to learn about the progress of its latest exploration project, to assess the potential for producing lithium from geothermal waters in the vicinity of Blackwater.
The Company is hosting an additional informal drop-in session on Wednesday 10th May from 5pm to 7pm at Blackwater Village Hall.
This informal event will enable local people to drop in any time within the stated hours to meet the team, find out more about the project and ask questions.
Cornish Lithium has recently received planning permission from Cornwall Council under a General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) to drill an initial research borehole to a depth of 2,000 metres (6,560 feet) at the Blackwater site and test the lithium potential of the geothermal waters that flow through its underlying permeable geological structures.
A six-month drilling programme has already commenced at the site and although Cornwall Council has granted permission for Cornish Lithium to drill for 24 hours a day, drilling operations are initially taking place between 7am and 7pm.
The drill rig at the site is screened with straw bales to minimise visual impact and to help absorb noise, which is being monitored and controlled in accordance with Cornwall Council’s requirements.
Samples of geothermal water will be collected at various depths within the borehole for testing purposes.
“An environmentally-sustainable domestic supply of lithium is essential to the UK’s green energy transition and the manufacture of electric vehicles, and Blackwater has been identified as a highly prospective area to explore for lithium in geothermal waters from our extensive digital modelling of Cornwall’s geology,” explains Mike Round, Head of Geothermal Lithium at Cornish Lithium.
“If you are a local resident with questions about our research borehole, drilling operations or our plans to develop an environmentally-responsible source of lithium for the benefit of Cornwall and the nation, we look forward to discussing them with you at this latest drop-in event.”
The Blackwater exploration project is part of Cornish Lithium’s strategy to demonstrate Cornwall’s potential to produce lithium from geothermal waters and complements the Company’s existing portfolio of projects at United Downs, Twelveheads and North Downs.
By extracting lithium from mineral-rich groundwaters that circulate beneath the surface of Cornwall, Cornish Lithium aims to provide a carbon-neutral, low-impact resource to help mitigate the global lithium shortage and produce valuable by-products, including heat, which can be used as a renewable energy source for local businesses and communities.
Further details of the Blackwater exploration project can be found on Cornish Lithium’s website athttps://cornishlithium.com/projects/lithium-in-geothermal-waters/blackwater/
If you are unable to attend this latest community engagement event and have questions about the Company’s drilling programme at Blackwater, please email blackwaterdrilling@cornishlithium.com or telephone the drilling team on 01326 640 049.
