Li4UK, a consortium established to explore the potential of lithium production in the UK, has announced the successful production of lithium carbonate from two sources Cornish Lithium’s (CLL) Trelavour project site in Cornwall and another from Scotland.
According to Sunday Times Driving, Li4UK aims to evaluate the feasibility of producing battery quality lithium from local sources as well as assess the potential for building a critical new industry for the country.
The government-backed initiative Li4UK consortium comprises Cornish Lithium, mining consultancy firm Wardell Armstrong International (WAI), and the Natural History Museum (NHM).
NHM research leader Reimar Seltmann said: “These two samples represent the first known production of lithium carbonate from UK hard rock sources and hence are of great importance for the UK economy.
“The consortium believes that the positive results from this project will accelerate the development of a domestic supply of battery-quality lithium chemicals for the UK automotive and battery industries, and the consequent economic value that such industries would generate.”
So why is mining lithium in the UK important?
Currently, lithium is produced far from the UK. Australia was responsible for 52.9 per cent of the global lithium supply in 2019, with Chile, China, and Argentina making up the rest. Mined lithium compounds are then sent to China for processing. There are currently no contract processing services for making lithium compounds into battery quality lithium raw materials in Europe.
With Chile and Australia holding nearly three-quarters of the world’s lithium reserves between them, the recent discovery in the UK is hardly going to usurp them as the world’s biggest suppliers, but by being able to domestically produce lithium, it vastly reduces the journey it takes, proving beneficial for the environment.
An 18-month project has been completed to achieve the production of lithium carbonate. It involved scoping study, field sample collection, characterisation and analysis of samples, and evaluation and mineral processing.
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