Great Britain's last tin mine in Cornwall, England, could reopen as technology companies face growing demand for metals from ethical sources.
South Crofty, the last tin mine to close down in Great Britain, could potentially be reopened after it closed down 20 years ago as ethical sourcing of metals become a critical issue in the technology industry.
Cornwall was once considered the mining capital of the world and tin mining and melting has been practiced in the area for thousands of years. The mines started shutting down when new deposits were discovered in East Asia and South America in the late 19th century and English tin was unable to compete with them.
Richard Williams, CEO of Strongbow Exploration, said "The ethically sourced aspect of the high tech world today is a very prominent issue, certainly in tin. There's a real push from end-users and investors to ensure that there's a clean chain of supply." The Canadian firm plans to reopen the South Crofty mine by 2021.
Williams added "So you're going to see a growing demand for the use of tin. And what better way to avoid the concept that you're sourcing tin from potential areas of conflict or areas where you have child exploitation than to mine it here in Cornwall."
Tin is considered an essential metal in the technology industry as it is used as solder in consumer electronics' circuit boards and as an additive in batteries. It is also an important component in smartphones, electric vehicles, and 5G technology. According to the International Tin Association, global consumption of tin has increased by over 2.5% in 2018 and is forecast to continue further.
If reopened, the South Crofty mine would become the only operating tin mine in Europe, excluding Russia, or North America but it will require more time and investment, as Strongbow will need to survey and drain hundreds of miles of tunnels.
