Explore the Future of Lithium Production with
Imerys British Lithium
Launched in 2023, Imerys British Lithium (IBL) combines the expertise and resources of both Imerys and British Lithium in a joint venture.
As a worldwide supplier of minerals for a variety of industries including ceramics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, Imerys is one of Cornwall’s largest employers and owns the land where a significant lithium deposit has been found.
British Lithium was established in 2017 by highly experienced mining professionals who, since then, have been researching and developing newly patented methods of extracting lithium and producing lithium carbonate here in Cornwall.
An operational pilot plant has been up and running research and development work near Roche since 2022, and this is already producing battery quality lithium carbonate.
Ultimately, we aim to produce around 21,000 tonnes of high quality lithium carbonate every year, before the end of the decade, over the next 30 years.
Implemented Projects
The team behind Imerys British Lithium have successfully implemented
a number of resource projects
over the years. Some of these
are showcased here.
Cinovec Lithium (Czech Republic)
Cominco Phosphate (Republic of Congo)
Youanmi Gold (Western Australia)
Windimurra Vanadium (Western Australia)
Imerys British Lithium: on track to become Europe’s first commercial battery-grade lithium carbonate producer
Imerys, the world leader in mineral-based specialty solutions, has acquired an 80% stake in British Lithium. The transaction will bring together Imerys’ expertise in mining, infrastructure in Cornwall, R&D and process development capabilities, as well as its lithium mineral resources, with British Lithium’s bespoke technology and state-of-the-art lithium pilot plant, which recently produced battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Green mining of the future
From the very start, our aim has been to achieve the lowest environmental footprint possible. Car electrification is based on the need for a greener future, yet most lithium production is currently powered by coal in China.
That’s why we have developed a highly efficient process for concentrating lithium mica without using chemicals and why we will be using renewable energy to power our newly invented Mi-Sep ® technology which has a patent pending.
Welcome to Imerys British Lithium
We are developing a production method with the lowest environmental footprint possible. Car electrification is based on the need for a greener future and lithium production must be sustainable.
Our highly efficient process uses our patented Mi-Sep and Li-Sep technologies to concentrate lithium mica without using chemicals and is powered by renewables.
We go to great lengths to minimise our use of chemicals so the waste coming from our plant does not need neutralising. Once we have made a lithium mica concentrate, we calcine it at low temperature using lime as a reagent, rather than acid. The solution is subsequently purified to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.
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