A joint UK mining enterprise might produce sufficient Lithium carbonate, a vital element in electrical automotive batteries, to energy 500,000 automobiles by the tip of the last decade, it has been claimed.

Two corporations, Imerys and British Lithium, plan to mix their experience to extract the product from granite mines in Cornwall with monetary assist from the federal government.

"This venture will reduce the UK's and Europe's dependence on critical raw materials imports, thus contributing to the achievement of the European and British climate change targets and the creation of the first fully integrated regional electrical vehicle value chain," the corporations stated.