Critical Minerals Beneath Our Feet

The Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, recently visited Cornwall to launch the Government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy and highlight Cornwall’s role in domestic mineral production.

The Minister was taken on a whistle-stop tour of Camborne School of Mines, the University of Exeter, Falmouth Docks, Cornish Lithium, British Lithium and Cornish Metals Inc by Cornwall’s Labour MPs. 

With lithium, tin and tungsten essential to everything from renewable energy and transport to communications and defence, Cornwall’s rich granite bedrock places our region at the heart of a cleaner, more resilient future.

The Minister met the teams reviving Cornwall’s mining heritage, toured the South Crofty water treatment plant, saw pilot boat operations, and heard my bid to reopen the docks’ railway to transport minerals worldwide. He also viewed cutting-edge lithium-extraction technology and world-class teaching at the School of Mines.

Backed by £50 million, the strategy aims to strengthen UK supply chains, support local projects, and help meet 10% of national critical mineral demand and 20% through recycling by 2035.

This holds potential for thousands of jobs across Cornwall!