Cornish Lithium drive to secure domestic source of lithium

Cornish Lithium has awarded a contract to energy services giant Halliburton for the Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project in Cornwall.

The project aims to confirm the site’s potential for commercial lithium production by drilling two wells to assess the lithium content in deep geothermal waters.

Martin Geissler, vice president and general manager for lithium in geothermal waters at Cornish Lithium, said: "We are delighted to appoint Halliburton as our technical collaborator for integrated service delivery on the well services and testing scope of our Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project.

"Halliburton brings deep industry expertise and knowledge, and will support the drilling and testing phases of our project, from well design to construction.

"Their team was highly proactive throughout the tender process, demonstrating a clear understanding of our requirements and a strong commitment to supporting the project’s objectives.

"We look forward to working with Halliburton and other collaborators as we continue to advance the project, support Cornwall’s proud mining heritage, and create high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth for the region."

Halliburton will provide subsurface modelling, well engineering, and integrated drilling and testing services as part of the contract.

The work will estimate lithium concentrations within the Cornubian Batholith, a vast granite formation beneath Cornwall and Devon.

The commercial-scale wells will enable extended testing to confirm sustainable production conditions, assess water reinjection rates, and demonstrate Cornish Lithium’s preferred Direct Lithium Extraction technology.

The company will also explore the potential to harness geothermal heat for nearby homes and businesses.

Data collected from the wells will inform the project’s Final Investment Decision and advance Cornish Lithium’s broader plan to develop a network of geothermal lithium production hubs across Cornwall.

The Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project is supported by a £7.2 million grant through the UK Government's DRIVE35 programme and forms part of Cornish Lithium’s larger £14.5 million drilling and testing programme.

Jean-Marc Lopez, senior vice president for Halliburton’s Europe, Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa region, said: "Halliburton will support Cornish Lithium on the well services and testing scope for the Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project.

"With more than 70 years of geothermal development experience and over a century of well delivery expertise, I expect our teams will execute the drilling programme safely and efficiently to support Cornish Lithium’s technical and operational objectives."

Lithium is an essential component in lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and large-scale energy storage systems.