Cherilyn Mackrory MP for Truro and Falmouth and chair for the all-party parliamentary group for Critical Minerals is delighted that the new water treatment plant at South Crofty mine which opened last week, representing significant progress towards the return of Cornish mining.
The water treatment plant has been developed and built by Cornish Metals as part of their ongoing South Crofty Tin Project with the goal of dewatering the mine which has become flooded with contaminated water since it closed in 1998. The plant is expected to treat and discharge up to 25,000m3/day of water which will be cleared of impurities and released into the Red River.
This river, whose name derives from the red staining historically caused by iron deposits from local mines including South Crofty, has become a haven for wildlife and a diverse local ecology. Impure water from the mine still discharges into the Red River, which has caused damage to many of the species of plants and animals which inhabit it. Working closely with the Environment Agency, Cornish Metals have ensured that the standard of water discharged by the new plant will be of an acceptable standard to prevent further harm.
As well as dewatering the mine, the plant will benefit the local area with discharged water used to provide heat and power. 15% of electricity used to power the plant will come from a hydro-turbine utilising water directly from the mine.
Once the mine has been drained the site will be reopened, utilising modern mining technologies which will enable cleaner, efficient extraction of tin and other critical minerals. Currently, there is no primary tin production in Europe or North America with 75% of tin coming from mines in China, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
Dewatering the South Crofty mine is expected to take 18 months to two years. Once this is completed, the site will be reopened for mineral extraction, and is expected to create 300 new high quality well-paid jobs for young people across Cornwall.
Cherilyn says:
“I’m so excited to see South Crofty mine reopen, creating new jobs and opportunities across our community. As chair of the APPG for Critical Minerals I have campaigned hard to return mining to Cornwall. At the recent Cornish Mining Conference in Falmouth, I spoke about the new age of Cornish mining, and the opportunities it will bring for our great community. This water treatment plant is start of that process, and I cannot wait to see where it leads.
What really impresses me is the commitment Cornish Metals has to our community. This project was made possible by many high-skilled people, including electricians, engineers, architects, solicitors, and more. All came from Cornish businesses. We have the talent right here, and we are using it to return an industry as Cornish as jam first.”
Richard Williams, CEO and Director of Cornish Metals says:
“The start of dewatering of the South Crofty mine is an important milestone for the continued advancement of the Project towards an investment decision. Teams from Cornish Metals, our suppliers and dedicated local contractors have worked extremely hard over the last year to get to this point. Planning and preparation are underway for the re-accessing of the mine, which will take place in parallel with mine dewatering.”