The Crown Estate grants Cornish Lithium rights to explore for lithium off the Cornish coast
The Crown Estate, manager of the seabed and much of the
foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has today
announced the outcome of its Minerals Licensing Round, granting
Cornish Lithium rights to explore for lithium within geothermal
waters in areas off both the north and south coasts of
Cornwall.
Lithium is a key component of lithium-ion batteries used for
electric vehicles and renewable energy power storage, and as such,
has a valuable role to play in helping the UK to meet its ambitious
climate change targets. The UK currently imports lithium, and its
environmentally-responsible production in the UK would represent an
important step forward in combating climate change.
The award of rights follows a comprehensive two-year tender
process (commenced in 2018) and an environmental assessment known
as a plan-level Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) that
concluded in December 2020.
It gives Cornish Lithium the opportunity to explore offshore for
potential lithium mineral resources contained within geothermal
waters. The grant of rights means that Cornish Lithium can now
begin its desk-based exploration programme, to start to identify
potential geological targets for later research. Physical
exploration works are not anticipated for at least four years,
following the appropriate desk studies, design works and extensive
consultation.
In order for Cornish Lithium to proceed to commercial extraction
the business will need to meet all the milestones required for
extraction rights from The Crown Estate, as well as statutory
planning and environmental consents from the relevant regulatory
body, which would include consultation. Whilst exploration work for
lithium in geothermal waters is at an early stage, lithium
extraction has significant potential to create new revenue and jobs
within a new industry for the benefit of Cornwall.
Read the HRA reports
here