A Cornish company that last year became the first business to produce lithium hydroxide mined and refined in Britain has reached another milestone with the assistance of a Welsh firm. Sean Carr Lining Technology (SCLT), based in St Asaph, Denbighshire, has completed specialist works for mineral exploration company Cornish Lithium at its Cross Lanes project near Truro.
The family-run geosynthetic lining specialist designed and installed a liner for a lagoon that will temporarily store water extracted from deep underground during drilling and testing operations. Cornish Lithium is preparing to drill two wells to assess the lithium resource potential of naturally occurring geothermal waters, known as brine, which circulate deep beneath Cornwall. Once testing is complete, the water will be safely pumped back underground.
SCLT's role involved the specialist preparation and installation of a high-performance liner to support secure water storage during the exploration phase. The lagoon provides a large capacity of secure storage for the water and forms a critical part of the project's infrastructure, according to Cornish Lithium.
SCLT owner Sean Carr said his company was "extremely proud" to be part of the "exciting project in Cornwall." "It is a key project in a county where the critical minerals sector is seeing a strong resurgence, and being awarded the contract for such a prominent and technically demanding installation is a real endorsement of the high standard of work our team delivers," he said. "We are also incredibly proud of what has been achieved, and it shows how far we have come as a business over the last three decades. We wish Cornish Lithium every success as its Cross Lanes site moves into its next phase."
Strategic Importance
Cornish Lithium was founded in 2016 and is working to extract lithium, a key component for making batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and laptops, using a new technology that it claims will produce fewer carbon emissions than other processes used worldwide. Last year, the company raised £35 million in equity funding, including up to £31 million from the government-backed National Wealth Fund.
The company's Cross Lanes project aims to confirm the site's potential for the commercial production of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent, supporting the development of a secure, domestic supply of lithium for the UK.
Will Irani, engineering team lead at Cornish Lithium, said the liner for the test-water lagoon represented "a critical piece of infrastructure" for the project. "Working with specialist UK companies like SCLT not only strengthens our projects technically, but also delivers wider benefits by supporting skilled jobs, expertise, and economic activity across the country," he said. "These partnerships play an important role as we progress towards commercial lithium production in Cornwall."
