Cornish Lithium accelerates into 2026 with strong momentum
Cornish Lithium has announced another year of significant progress, as it continues to reach major milestones across its hard rock and geothermal projects while strengthening its leadership position in the UK’s critical minerals sector.
In 2025, the company achieved major growth in its operations and reinforced its commitment to securing a domestic supply of battery-grade lithium and driving the UK’s clean energy transition.
UK Critical Minerals Strategy
In November, Cornish Lithium welcomed the launch of the UK Government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy, which formally adopts a national target for domestic lithium extraction.
The company has long advocated for a clear domestic target to unlock investment, accelerate project development and build a resilient UK supply chain for battery-grade lithium.
The Government has now aligned with that vision, setting an ambitious goal to produce at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium per year by 2035. Backed by up to £50 million of new funding, the strategy sets out a clear roadmap to secure the UK’s economic and manufacturing capabilities by boosting domestic supplies of sustainable lithium and other critical minerals.
First lithium samples breakthrough
Prior to the strategy announcement, Cornish Lithium became the first company to produce lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) mined and refined in the UK.
LHM is a critical raw material for lithium-ion batteries which form the foundations of nearly all modern-day electronics – from electric vehicles (EVs) and smartphones to energy storage and drone technology.
This once-in-a-generation breakthrough marks a major step toward securing a domestic lithium supply chain for the UK automotive and battery industries – supporting future jobs, economic growth, and energy security.
Samples of LHM were produced at Cornish Lithium’s state-of-the-art demonstration plant, which integrates all processing stages – from crushing and grinding rock to separating lithium-bearing minerals – using patented, low-carbon technology developed through years of intensive research and development. Following the success of this demonstration plant, Cornish Lithium plans to build a full-scale lithium processing and refining plant with an annual capacity of up to 10,000 tonnes.
Minerals Security Partnership designation
Alongside this breakthrough, Cornish Lithium announced that its Trelavour Lithium Project had been officially designated as an MSP Project by the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).
This recognition, announced during the Prime Minister’s trade delegation to Mumbai, underscores the project’s global significance in critical mineral supply chains.
The MSP – a multi-national initiative – focuses on fostering supply chain resilience and responsible growth across the critical minerals sector. The designation enables Cornish Lithium to collaborate with an international partnership of governments to develop secure, sustainable supply chains for essential minerals.
Acquisition of low-carbon processing technology
2025 also saw the successful acquisition of the full intellectual property and patents for cutting-edge processing technology from Australian company Lepidico.
This innovative technology will enable Cornish Lithium to extract, refine and process battery-grade lithium hydroxide at its Trelavour Lithium Project. In addition, the company plans to explore opportunities to license the technology to other mining companies worldwide, reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable lithium production.
50% increase in lithium resource
In another significant development, Cornish Lithium’s resource update demonstrated a 50% increase in contained lithium for its Trelavour Lithium Project, underpinning approximately 10,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide production for at least 20 years.
This major upgrade follows a year of extensive drilling, sampling, testing and modelling. It represents another key step towards completing the project’s Feasibility Study, which remains on track for delivery in early 2026.
Crowdfunding campaign and institutional investment
To advance the company’s projects to commercial production, Cornish Lithium launched a new crowdfunding campaign, offering its wider community of shareholders and supporters the opportunity to invest in the next stage of growth.
The campaign followed the announcement of £35m of funding from institutional investors, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and TechMet, and raised an additional £2.6 million from 3,719 investors in just 14 days.
Non-Statutory Consultation
Local stakeholders and communities were invited to share their views at a six-week non-statutory consultation, marking an important milestone in the development of Cornish Lithium’s planning application for its Trelavour Lithium Project.
The consultation provided detailed information on how the project will be constructed, operated and decommissioned, as well as how it is expected to benefit the region. Feedback gathered during this process will help shape the project as it progresses.
The project aims to create approximately 800 jobs during construction and around 300 jobs during its 20-year operational life, delivering high-quality, stable careers for Cornwall’s next generation. Once development consent is secured, construction is expected to take around two years, with operations targeted to begin in 2029.
(From left): Cornish Lithium CFO Varshan GoKool, Founder & Executive Chairman Jeremy Wrathall, CEO Jamie Airnes and COO Pat Forward.
Strengthening leadership with new appointments
Cornish Lithium strengthened its leadership team in 2025 with several key appointments. Jamie Airnes joined as Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than 25 years’ experience across large corporations and start-ups in the UK and internationally. His in-depth knowledge of the extractives industry and proven track record in project delivery will support the company’s next phase of growth.
Jeremy Wrathall, Cornish Lithium’s Founder, was elevated to the role of Executive Chairman, through which he continues to guide the company’s strategic direction and oversee corporate governance.
Gary Steven was appointed as a Non-Executive Director, representing the NWF. Gary brings extensive financial expertise and currently serves as a Director within NWF’s Portfolio Management team, overseeing a diverse investment portfolio. The NWF, owned by HM Treasury, remains a key institutional investor in Cornish Lithium.
Government engagement and global partnerships
Adding to the momentum, Cornish Lithium continued to play a leading role in shaping the UK’s critical minerals strategy on the global stage.
CEO Jamie Airnes joined a select group of business leaders and academics accompanying Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a trade delegation to Mumbai, representing the UK’s critical minerals sector and exploring strategic partnerships with India.
The company also welcomed several high-profile government visits including Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Industry, and Cornish MPs visiting the Trelavour Lithium Project, reinforcing Cornwall’s role in the UK’s industrial future.
These engagements showcased Cornish Lithium’s commitment to responsible production, job creation and regional economic growth.
Cross Lanes geothermal lithium project: UK’s first commercial facility
Reinforcing its commitment to innovation, Cornish Lithium secured planning consent to build the UK’s first commercial geothermal lithium production facility at its Cross Lanes Project near Chacewater.
This project will feature production-scale geothermal wells – one to extract lithium enriched geothermal water and another to reinject water after lithium extraction. These wells will also enable the company to assess the potential to harness geothermal heat for renewable energy supply to local communities.
The second phase will see the construction of a temporary demonstration plant to validate lithium production using advanced Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. If successful, Cornish Lithium plans to develop a full-scale commercial processing plant at the site.
Additional exploration boreholes were drilled at Tolgus (near Redruth) and Besore (near Truro) further strengthening the company’s geothermal resource base.
Global recognition: TIME Magazine GreenTech ranking
Cornish Lithium was named one of the World’s Top GreenTech Companies by TIME Magazine, ranking among the top 250 globally and number seven in the UK.
This accolade recognises the company’s pioneering work in low-carbon, high-tech lithium extraction, placing the company at the forefront of endeavours to reduce the environmental impact of resource development.
Sustainability leadership: fourth annual report
Cornish Lithium reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability with the publication of its fourth Sustainability Report, outlining progress across the three core pillars:
- Responsible stewardship of natural resources
- People and human rights
- Strong governance and regulatory compliance.
Connecting with the community
Proactive community engagement remains at the heart of Cornish Lithium’s work. From sponsoring local festivals and book launches to attending careers fairs, hosting drop-in sessions and supporting biodiversity initiatives, the company is committed to making a positive impact in Cornwall.
In 2025, Cornish Lithium awarded £14,820 to eight local organisations through its Community Fund, which provides grants of between £250 and £2,500 to clubs, charities, and activity groups in the company’s project areas. The next round of awards will be announced in February 2026.
The company also connected with thousands of people at major local events, including the Royal Cornwall Show, Stithians Show and regional careers fairs.
Front row (left to right): Cornish Lithium CEO Jamie Airnes; Lt Col Ant Sharman. Back row: Cornish Lithium team members and MoD Defence Relationship Management’s Jon Beake.
Supporting the Armed Forces community
Cornish Lithium also proudly signed the Armed Forces Covenant, reinforcing its commitment to fair treatment for employees who are Armed Forces veterans or their family members, and supporting reservists and volunteers in their training and postings.
By signing the Covenant, Cornish Lithium joins nearly 13,000 organisations that uphold the values of fairness, respect and opportunity for those who have served their country.
Looking ahead to 2026
Looking forward, Cornish Lithium is poised to build on its strong momentum. In the first quarter of 2026, the company expects to publish its Economic Impact Report, outlining the projected economic value of the Trelavour Lithium Project, including direct and indirect job creation throughout construction and operation.
In addition, the company plans to commence drilling at its Cross Lanes site, a key step in advancing its geothermal portfolio and validating the potential for low-carbon lithium production and renewable heat energy.
Jamie Airnes, CEO of Cornish Lithium, said: "2025 was another phenomenal year for Cornish Lithium, marking significant progress towards securing a domestic supply of battery-grade lithium for the UK. As we look ahead to 2026, our focus remains on advancing our projects to support the UK’s commitment to develop and produce lithium resources domestically and create long-term economic opportunities and high-quality careers for Cornwall."
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