Britain is to get its first lithium mine in Cornwall, creating more than 100 jobs and cutting reliance on China

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

Geothermal Engineering Limited will invest £43m in a lithium extraction facility in Cornwall, backed by a government offer in principle of nearly £10m through the DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund. Commercial production is expected to start in 2029, with yearly output of approximately 1,500 tonnes of technical-grade lithium carbonate — enough to supply batteries for more than 180,000 EVs. The announcement forms part of a broader effort that has unlocked nearly £230m of private investment across lithium projects in Cornwall and Teesside.

Global lithium demand is forecast to surge by 1,100% by 2035, making a domestic supply chain a strategic priority for Britain's automotive and clean energy sectors.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds linked the Cornwall announcement to more than £1bn of automotive investment secured this month from Bentley, McLaren and Nissan.

CEO Dr Ryan Law said the UK had a 'proud' opportunity to build a domestic lithium supply, describing the project as 'bringing jobs and new investment to the local area.'