Cornish Lithium Appoints WH Bond & Sons for Cross Lanes Works

Cornish Firm Appointed as Lithium Work Begins Near Truro

Enabling works have begun at Cornish Lithium’s Cross Lanes site near Truro, as the company moves forward with plans to develop one of the UK’s first commercial geothermal-based lithium production facilities.

Cornish Lithium has appointed local contractor WH Bond & Sons to carry out the initial site works, with activity now underway.

Local contractor appointed

WH Bond & Sons, a family-owned civil engineering company based near Saltash, has been selected through a competitive tendering process. The firm specialises in civil engineering, groundworks and infrastructure projects.

The appointment forms part of Cornish Lithium’s commitment to supporting the local supply chain, with the company stating it aims to ensure investment, opportunity and skills development are retained within Cornwall as far as possible.

Shaun Philp, Contracting Manager at WH Bond & Sons, said: “We are proud to be working with Cornish Lithium on a project in Cornwall that will have a major national impact and, once we have completed our enabling works, we will watch with interest as this exciting scheme develops. As a Cornwall–based business, sustainability, community support and creating opportunities for local people remain central to how we operate. We are pleased to be supporting a development that will benefit Cornish communities and will continue to work with local suppliers wherever possible. We look forward to developing and nurturing a positive working relationship with Cornish Lithium as the project progresses.”

What is happening at Cross Lanes?

The Cross Lanes project will initially involve the drilling of two wells to extract and test lithium from naturally circulating underground brines. Exploration drilling carried out in 2023 confirmed that the sub-surface brines at the site hold strong potential for commercial lithium extraction.

Lithium is a key component in lithium-ion batteries, which power consumer electronics, electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems.

Current works at the site include building access roads, constructing a concrete pad for the drill rig and creating a lagoon for short-term water storage. Completion of these enabling works is anticipated in late spring, subject to weather conditions.

At the same time, the existing geothermal exploration well drilled in 2023 will be cleaned and tested.

Drilling and testing phases

Phase One is due to begin in early summer and will involve drilling two production-scale wells to depths of around 2,000 metres. This will be followed by a three-month testing period through autumn and winter.

A modular demonstration plant will also be installed on site to test the company’s chosen Direct Lithium Extraction technology. Lithium-enriched brines will be pumped from the first well and processed using this technology. Once the lithium has been extracted, the brines will be reinjected underground via the second well.

Data from the testing will allow Cornish Lithium to assess both the quantity and quality of lithium in the brines, along with the potential to harness geothermal heat for local homes and businesses. The results will inform the Final Investment Decision on the commercial viability of the site.

Government targets and future plans

Planning consent for the first phase of the project was granted by Cornwall Council and can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning register under reference PA25/05631.

Martin Geissler, VP General Manager for Lithium in Geothermal Waters at Cornish Lithium, said: “We are delighted to welcome WH Bond & Sons, who have been appointed at our Cross Lanes site through a competitive tendering process. They are the first of many local, national and international companies we look forward to working with as we continue to develop the project and help to reinvigorate Cornwall’s proud mining industry, create high-quality careers and deliver long-term economic growth for the region.

“This project marks an important step in delivering our contribution to the Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to produce 50,000 tonnes of lithium by 2035. Across our Lithium in Geothermal Waters portfolio, we are targeting 10,000 tonnes per year, so advancing the Cross Lanes project is a significant milestone towards that ambition.

“We will continue to keep in close contact with our neighbours as the project moves forward, sharing regular updates through our Community Liaison Group and resident communications.”

More information about the Cross Lanes project can be found on the Cornish Lithium website: http://www.cornishlithium.com/cross-lanes

📷(From left): Cornish Lithium VP General Manager, Martin Geissler, WH Bond & Sons Contracting Manager, Shaun Philp, and Cornish Lithium Engineering Team Lead, Will Irani. - Credit Cornish Lithium