Imerys British Lithium project placed into care and maintenance
Imerys cites capital allocation constraints and the need to find a long-term partner to support the Cornwall project.
The St Austell, Cornwall, UK, site pictured in 2022 while still receiving Innovate UK funding
© Hazel Plater/ShutterstockDespite the move, Imerys says the project remains a strategically valuable asset.
Imerys will continue to monitor and assess the opportunity and conditions for a potential relaunch, including evaluating the future of the pilot plant.
The Cornish site was billed as a ‘leading lithium hub’. The pilot plant had been successfully running research and development work since 2022 and had produced battery-grade lithium carbonate.
It is believed the company will, for now, focus on its French project, EMILI, which is more advanced.
