£4.7 million investment into metal mining in Cornwall

The investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme significantly boosts Cornwall's ambitions of becoming a world-class region for tech metal mining.

It is seen as a significant stride in making Cornwall a major environmentally sustainable producer of critical minerals such as lithium, tin, and tungsten - and could potentially unlock thousands of job opportunities.

The importance of Cornish mining resources has been recognised by the UK government as they are deemed vital to the country's net-zero mission.

These resources are believed to play a significant role in various industries ranging from car manufacturing to electronics and defence.

Notably, the Cornwall region alone has the capacity to meet more than half of the UK's lithium demand by 2030.

This is crucial in manufacturing electric vehicle batteries.

The Good Growth investment will be used to support three mining-related projects.

First is a £4.55 million project for a critical minerals processing and testing equipment hub, unique to the UK.

It is collaboration between the renowned Camborne School of Mines and Cornwall-based mineral processing company GSL (Grinding Solutions Limited). The project is being supported with £3.62m of investment from the Good Growth Programme.

The hub will include green mineral processing equipment to drive research and innovation around low-impact, low-carbon metal extraction, and aims to create a new generation of mineral processing experts, whose knowledge can be exported around the world.

The second is a £909,672 investment to form a geo-resources cluster development body to ensure the industry's sustainable growth.

Led by the University of Exeter and co-funded with £50,000 from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, the aim is to make Cornwall a global leader in sustainable and responsible geo-resources management. 

Lastly, a £192,000 investment will support the planned reopening of South Crofty tin mine, which closed in 1998, contributing to the creation of 300 new jobs.

Cornish Metals has raised £40million to dewater the mine and says Crofty has the fourth highest grade of undeveloped tin resource globally.

The Good Growth investment, which is being matched by Cornish Metals, will fund feasibility studies looking at the most environmentally friendly hoisting options for ore and the best location for planned new offices and workshops.

The studies will also look at how South Crofty could be a net zero facility, including the use of solar power and recovering heat from mine water.

Cllr Louis Gardner, portfolio holder for economy at Cornwall Council, said: "We're investing in this sector because it will speed up Cornwall's emerging critical minerals industry and help underpin the supply chains that are going to be essential to the UK's net zero transition.

"Cornwall's mineral resources have been singled out by Government as nationally important to providing a secure supply, delivering economic growth and tackling the climate emergency.

"This strategic investment is among several that the Good Growth Programme is making in our emerging sectors."

The substantial investment has been welcomed by the Cornwall Mining Alliance.

Jean Taylor MBE, a member of the steering committee, stated: "This strategic investment in Cornwall's mining sector will accelerate its development and help unlock its enormous potential in an environmentally sustainable way.

"With millions of pounds poised to be invested in a number of exploration projects in Cornwall and the wider region, it is vital that we have the right infrastructure and skills in place."

To find out more about the Good Growth Programme and the projects it is supporting in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, visit the official Good Growth website.