Mineral exploration company Cornish Lithium has appointed a new chief executive as it moves from research and development towards full-scale operations.
Energy boss Jamie Airnes has more than 25 years of experience working for Ƶ corporations and start-ups, including helping grow Ithaca Energy from a micro-cap listed company into one of the Ƶ’s largest independent businesses in the sector.
His appointment will see founder and current chief executive, Jeremy Wrathall, who established the company in 2016, move into the role of executive chair.
Cornish Lithium’s plant near St Austell opened last year, producing lithium hydroxide, key for making batteries for electric vehicles and other technology, from granite extracted from an old China clay pit.
It is part of the company's Trelavour Hard Rock project, which aims to produce 10,000 tonnes of sustainable domestic lithium a year by 2027, to reduce reliance on importing carbon-intensive materials from places such as China.
The business is now looking to raise additional funding and recruit hundreds of employees to bring the project into commercial production.
Mr Wrathall stated: “This appointment is a pivotal moment for the business given the growing importance of domestic critical mineral supplies across the globe.
"I am proud to have overseen Cornish Lithium’s growth from a start-up in 2016 to a nationally-recognised leader in critical mineral extraction."
Mr Airnes added: “I am excited to join Cornish Lithium at such an important moment in the company's journey. My focus will be on driving the growth of our operations and enhancing our strategy to develop the lithium from our extraction portfolio across Cornwall in a responsible manner.
"I look forward to working closely with regulators, local communities and all our stakeholders to ensure continued, sustainable development.”
Cornish Lithium has also appointed mineral extraction expert Peter Morse as general manager for the Trelavour Hard Rock Project and geothermal energy expert Martin Geissler as general manager for the Lithium in Geothermal Waters (LiGW) arm of the business.
