Cornish Lithium Makes History: First UK-Produced Lithium Hydroxide Refined in Cornwall

Cornish Lithium has announced a historic breakthrough, becoming the first company to produce refined lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) mined and processed entirely within the UK. The lithium, extracted from Cornwall’s granite, was refined at the company’s demonstration plant in St Dennis.

Major Step for UK Industry

The achievement marks a significant leap forward for UK industry, as lithium hydroxide is a vital material used in lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, grid-scale battery storage and consumer electronics. Cornwall holds the largest lithium deposits in Europe, with enough to power around half of all electric vehicles expected to be produced in the UK by 2030.

Cornish Lithium’s operation represents an end-to-end industrial process, transforming a former china clay quarry into a low-carbon production site. The company is producing refined LHM at its Trelavour Demonstration Plant using innovative processing technology designed to minimise environmental impact.

📷(Left to right) Cornish Lithium Senior Process Manager, David Moseley, Laboratory Manager, Martin Dunn and Trelavour Lithium Project General Manager, Peter Morse - - Photo Credit: Cornish Lithium

“A Watershed Moment”

Cornish Lithium CEO Jamie Airnes described the development as a milestone for the country’s industrial future.

“This is a watershed moment for the UK’s industrial capabilities and economic resilience. For the first time ever as a country, we have now demonstrated the ability to produce one of the raw materials on which we all increasingly rely. It is testament to the strength of our research, our innovative approach and the dedication of the Cornish Lithium team.

“This once-in-a-generation breakthrough marks the latest stage in Cornish Lithium’s journey to secure a domestic supply of lithium for the UK automotive and battery industries, securing the UK’s future jobs, lithium supply chain and economic growth.”

Cornwall’s Groundbreaking Facility

The Trelavour Demonstration Plant, launched just a year ago, is the first in the UK to produce refined lithium hydroxide. The facility handles all stages of production — from crushing and grinding rock, to separating lithium-bearing minerals, and refining them into LHM.

Built with support from Innovate UK through the Automotive Transformation Fund’s Scale up Readiness Validation (SuRV) competition, the plant uses patented, low-carbon processing technology originally developed by Australian company Lepidico. Cornish Lithium acquired the full intellectual property rights and patents for the process in early 2025, optimising the technology at its Cornish site.

Following the success of the demonstration phase, the company plans to build a full-scale lithium processing and refining facility capable of producing up to 10,000 tonnes of LHM per year by 2029.

📷Cornish Lithium Demonstration Plant - Photo Credit: Cornish Lithium

New Crowdfunding Campaign

Alongside this announcement, Cornish Lithium has launched a new crowdfunding campaign to give supporters and shareholders the chance to invest in its next stage of growth. This follows £35 million in new funding from the National Wealth Fund and TechMet.

The campaign, hosted on the Crowdcube platform, opens to the public today, Friday 24th October 2025.

Founder and Executive Chairman Jeremy Wrathall said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to not just invest in Cornish Lithium but to support the development of a resilient and responsible critical minerals supply chain for the UK.

“The work we are doing is vital for the UK’s national security and economic growth, and it is encouraging to see that the appetite to help us succeed in our ambitions has already been overwhelmingly positive. For us, crowdfunding is more than just raising capital. It’s about connecting with our communities and giving everybody a chance to be part of our journey to commercial production.”

Funds raised through the campaign will be used alongside the £35 million of equity funding to expand projects and accelerate the company’s progress towards full-scale production. Cornish Lithium expects to create around 300 jobs as part of its growth plans.

Important Notice:
Investing in startups and early-stage businesses involves risks, including illiquidity, lack of dividends, loss of investment and dilution. It should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. Please read the full Risk Warning on Crowdcube’s website before deciding to invest.

📷Cornish Lithium Senior Process Manager, David Moseley - Photo Credit: Cornish Lithium