Cornish Lithium, the company behind a major lithium mining project in Cornwall, has awarded a well drilling contract to US oil industry giant Halliburton as it advances toward commercial production. The Houston-based firm will provide well services for the Cross Lanes project near Redruth, a site being assessed for its potential to produce lithium commercially.
Last year, Cornish Lithium became the first business in the UK to produce lithium hydroxide mined and refined domestically. Lithium is a critical component of lithium-ion batteries used in modern electronics, including electric vehicles and smartphones.
Scope of the Halliburton contract
Under the contract, Halliburton will deliver subsurface modelling and well engineering, along with equipment and services for the drilling and testing of two appraisal wells. The work aims to estimate the amount of lithium contained within the geothermal system of the Cornubian Batholith—a large granite body formed around 280 million years ago that lies beneath much of Cornwall and Devon.
According to Cornish Lithium, the commercial-scale wells will enable extended testing to validate sustainable production conditions and explore the potential to harness geothermal heat for local homes and businesses. Data gathered from the wells will inform the project's final investment decision and support the company's broader ambition to develop a network of modular geothermal lithium production hubs across Cornwall.
Cornwall's lithium potential
Cornwall is home to the largest lithium deposits in Europe and has enough lithium to power at least 50 per cent of all EVs expected to be produced in the UK by 2030. The Cross Lanes project is supported by a £7.2m grant from the UK Government's DRIVE35 programme, which part-funds Cornish Lithium's £14.5m drilling and testing programme. DRIVE35 is delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK.
Cornish Lithium first drilled and tested an exploration borehole at Cross Lanes in 2023, confirming that lithium-rich geothermal waters circulate naturally through the underlying rock formations.
Industry expertise and project backing
Martin Geissler, VP general manager for Lithium in Geothermal Waters at Cornish Lithium, said: “Halliburton brings deep industry expertise and knowledge, and will support the drilling and testing phases of our project, from well design to construction.
“Their team was highly proactive throughout the tender process, demonstrating a clear understanding of our requirements and a strong commitment to supporting the project’s objectives. We look forward to working with Halliburton and other collaborators as we continue to advance the project, support Cornwall’s proud mining heritage, and create high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth for the region.”
Jean-Marc Lopez, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa at Halliburton, added: “Halliburton will support Cornish Lithium on the well services and testing scope for the Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project.
“With more than 70 years of geothermal development experience and over a century of well delivery expertise, I expect our teams will execute the drilling programme safely and efficiently to support Cornish Lithium’s technical and operational objectives.”
Cornish Lithium has said its projects across the Duchy could boost Cornwall's economy by £3.8bn, underscoring the regional economic significance of the venture as it moves closer to commercial-scale lithium production.
