Cornish Metals Inc. has completed the commissioning and officially opened the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at its South Crofty Tin Project in Cornwall, UK. The company is now preparing to commence dewatering of the South Crofty mine, which is expected to take 18 months. The treated water from the mine will be discharged into the Red River at a rate of up to 25,000m3/day, meeting the company's permitted standards set by the Environment Agency. The dewatering process will have a positive effect on water quality in the Red River, which currently receives untreated mine water from past mining activities. The water discharged from the mine will also power a hydro-turbine that generates up to 15% of the power consumed by the WTP. The company is also exploring other renewable heat opportunities using the treated water's temperature to potentially heat at least 800 homes in the local area.
Richard Williams, CEO and Director of Cornish Metals, stated, "The start of dewatering of the South Crofty mine is an important milestone for the continued advancement of the Project towards an investment decision."
The South Crofty Tin Project is a historical, high-grade, underground tin mine that operated from the sixteenth century until 1998. It has Planning Permission for underground mining, a mine water treatment plant, new processing facilities, and all necessary site infrastructure. The project has the 4th highest grade tin Mineral Resource globally and benefits from multiple shafts that can be used for future operations. Tin is considered a Critical Mineral, and responsible sourcing and security of supply are important factors in the energy transition and technology growth. The South Crofty project has strong local community and government support and could generate 250-300 direct jobs.
Cornish Metals is a dual-listed company focused on advancing the South Crofty Tin Project in Cornwall, UK. The former producing South Crofty tin mine closed in 1998 after over 400 years of continuous production. The company has a growing team of skilled people local to Cornwall. An updated Mineral Resource estimate for South Crofty was completed in September 2023. The technical information in the news release was compiled by Mr. Owen Mihalop, Chief Operating Officer for Cornish Metals, who is a Competent Person and Qualified Person under the JORC Code and NI 43-101.