Imerys Announces £18 Million Investment to Its China Clay Operations in Cornwall

Major Upgrade for Mid-Cornwall Facility

Imerys, the global leader in industrial minerals, has announced a major investment of nearly £18 million into its china clay operations in Cornwall. The project will see the construction of a new dry mining plant at the company’s Littlejohns site near Roche, with completion expected by the end of 2026.

The investment is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with £2.1 million allocated through Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Programme. 

Cutting Energy Use and Unlocking New Reserves

The new plant will allow Imerys to reduce electricity usage across its Cornish operations by 10 percent. Relocating the facility will also enable the decommissioning of the current plant, giving access to valuable kaolin reserves underneath and extending the operational life of the site.

Mark Hewson, who leads Imerys in the UK, said:
“We are delighted to receive this funding, which makes a significant contribution toward the overall investment required. We have been active here for over 25 years, with China clay, or kaolin as it’s also known, being mined here for nearly 300 years! Through direct and indirect employment, we support around 3,500 jobs and in addition spend more than £40 million every year in the local economy. This investment, which allows the significant update of our facilities, will help us to shore up those jobs and maintain that economic support for many years to come.

“Lithium mining here in the southwest is strategically important for the UK as we move forward to net zero, but in parallel to that, kaolin mining has been and will continue to be a mainstay of the Cornish economy.

“This investment is essential as we develop and improve our existing mining infrastructure, as this will facilitate the set up of our lithium project, which is located in an old China clay pit. The strength of our project is our ability to use our existing China clay assets to minimise the impact on the local area.”

📷The image is an aerial view of the site - showing where the new plant will be situated and the location of the kaolin reserves

Cleaner and More Efficient Mining

The move to dry mining will significantly reduce both water and energy use compared to traditional wet mining methods, where clay is separated from granite using high-pressure water and piped as slurry for processing. The new approach also reduces transport distances, lowering the environmental impact.

Kaolin extracted in Cornwall is exported worldwide and used in a wide range of products including ceramics, paints, plastics, coatings and life sciences.

Support from Local Leaders

Lord Hutton, Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum, said:
“This latest investment is a real boost for Cornwall and Scilly, backing the sectors and skills that will power jobs, innovation, and growth. With SPF in its final phase and the Government reviewing future funding models, we’re working closely with partners to secure the support we need to keep driving our economy and communities forward.”

Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals, added:
“I am thrilled to see Imerys – the largest industrial employer of people living within my constituency – invest so strongly in the future of local china clay and mineral production.

“I was elected by local people on a pledge to drive jobs and prosperity, across new and emerging industries, so I’m excited to see Imerys use SPF funding, which we worked so hard to secure a £47m commitment to this year, to realise opportunities for jobs and ensure the continued sustainability of our long-established china clay industry which is so central to our economy in Cornwall.

“I will continue to do everything I can to support investment in both existing and emerging industries, and realise the exciting future awaiting St Austell and Newquay.”

Looking Ahead: Lithium from Cornish Clay Pits

Imerys is also developing a lithium project near St Austell, aiming to produce 20,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year — enough for around half a million electric vehicle batteries. The company is making use of former china clay pits to reduce environmental disruption. You can find more details at www.imerysbritishlithium.com.

With the combination of modernised infrastructure and long-term mineral access, Imerys’s new investment looks set to secure Cornwall’s place at the heart of both established and emerging industries for years to come.