The boss of a Cornish mining company says the launch of the government's new critical minerals strategy will create high-quality jobs and boost manufacturing in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
Jamie Airnes, chief executive of Cornish Lithium, has welcomed proposals by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reduce Britain's reliance on China and boost domestic supply.
The government's strategy includes a £50m fund to boost production at tungsten and lithium mines in Cornwall.
In October, Cornish Lithium became the first company in Britain to produce lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) - a key element in batteries for electric cars.
The company has repurposed a former china clay quarry and is producing refined LHM on a single brownfield industrial site at its Trelavour Demonstration Plant near St Austell.
"We welcome the publication of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy that provides a clear strategic framework within which industrial scale º£½ÇÊÓƵ critical minerals production can become a reality," said Mr Airnes.
"The strategy highlights the need to accelerate domestic capability, unlock investment, and build strategic partnerships – all of which are essential to delivering lithium production at scale."
The critical minerals initiative sets out an ambition to produce 10 per cent of º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s mineral needs domestically and 20 per cent through recycling by 2035.
The government has said it wants to reduce the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s overreliance on foreign imports of critical minerals essential for everyday life by ramping up domestic production, protecting the º£½ÇÊÓƵ from shortages in global shocks like natural disasters or war.
It follows a six-week standoff between the European Union and China over the supply of chips that are needed for use in cars.
In the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, demand for copper – used for electric plugs in our homes and the brakes in our cars – is set to almost double by 2035, while demand for lithium – vital for powering laptops and electric cars – will increase by 1,100%, the government said.
Sir Keir said: "For too long, Britain has been dependent on a handful of overseas suppliers, leaving our economy and national security exposed to global shocks.
"That is why we are taking decisive action to change that, boosting domestic production, ramping up recycling, and backing British businesses with the investment they need to compete on the international stage and drive down the cost of living for people at home."
