Delivering positive economic impacts for Cornwall and the UK
Cornwall sits on one of the largest lithium resources in Europe and Cornish Lithium is set to unlock its potential for the UK. Over the next 25 years, the Trelavour Hard Rock Lithium Project and Lithium in Geothermal Waters (LiGW) projects are projected to deliver transformational economic benefits to Cornwall, the South West and the UK.
These numbers are grounded in detailed financial input from both projects. The Trelavour Lithium Project alone is underpinned by a completed comprehensive feasibility study involving nearly 21,000 metres of drilling and internationally recognised resource estimates. The LiGW figures reflect plans for multiple geothermal lithium sites across Cornwall, including Cross Lanes, drawing lithium from naturally circulating geothermal waters beneath the Cornubian Granite.
For every £1 of direct value Cornish Lithium generates, £1.41 of total economic activity is created across supply chains and the wider local economy. At the Trelavour site, that multiplier rises to £1.75 which is well above benchmarks for mining, construction and research sectors.
£5bn
contribution to the economy over 25 years
£3.8bn
contribution to Cornwall's economy
1,000+
jobs supported annually across the UK
700+
jobs supported annually across Cornwall
98%
of roles pay above Cornish median salary
40%
approximately of UK domestic lithium target met by 2035
Delivering national economic value
Cornish Lithium's contribution goes beyond Cornwall. Our projects are projected to generate £5 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy over the next 25 years, with the value generated by direct operation alone tripling the GVA of the entire UK mining and quarrying sector.
The economic impact extends across supply chains into chemicals, manufacturing, logistics and professional services, creating nearly 600 additional indirect and induced jobs UK-wide alongside the direct employment at Cornish Lithium's sites.
Bringing high-quality jobs to Cornwall
Cornwall's economy has long faced a challenge: local job salaries. Median salaries are 14% below the national average.
The jobs created by these projects will be among the best-paid in the county. 98% of roles will pay above the Cornish median salary and 71% of roles will place workers in the top third of local earners.
Around 80% of roles are suitable for people without a university degree. These are skilled, stable, long-term careers built through vocational training and apprenticeships, not jobs that require someone to leave Cornwall to upskill.
Securing the UK's critical minerals supply
The UK currently imports 100% of its lithium and this dependency carries real economic risk. New modelling shows that a two-month disruption to global lithium supply in 2030 would delay production of over 145,000 UK-built vehicles, equivalent to £2.2 billion of lost economic output.
Cornish Lithium is working hard to solve this. Combined output from Trelavour and the Geothermal Waters Programme could cover around 38% of the UK's domestic lithium target by 2035 and would improve the UK's trade balance by an average of £327 million per year by substituting imports with domestic production.
