Newspaper Column 19th September 2023 - The Cornish Mining Conference

Last week I wrote about some of my work in Westminster on your behalf as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals, a group of Members of Parliament who work together from across the political spectrum, as well as with the industry, to highlight the UK's need for a secure, sustainable supply of critical minerals to deliver the nation's industrial strategy.

This mission was brought home locally to me last week, when I had a chance to speak, both as Chair of the APPG and also as the local Member of Parliament, at the 2023 Cornish Mining Conference, which this year was held at Falmouth.

It was a privilege to be asked to speak about what the Government is doing to help bring about this new age of Cornish mining, and the opportunities it will bring for all of us. I spoke about the work the government is doing to ensure our energy security, on how we use our energy at home, how we best utilise our natural capital, our mineral wealth, and how we best harness the talent of the Cornish people and grow our economy here in Cornwall, creating quality career paths for our children and future generations, while also ensuring biodiversity and sustainability for the environment at the same time.

With all of the exciting developments around Cornwall’s resurgent mining industry that I have recently written about, last week’s conference was an exciting time, with the mining industry sending global representatives to Falmouth to hear about everything that is going on in Cornwall.

With the world’s insatiable demand for technology metals such as lithium, copper, tin, tungsten, cobalt as well as minerals to increase food production and provide housing and infrastructure for an ever-growing population, the mining industry really is booming.

Held over several days, the Cornish Mining Conference highlighted the opportunities to responsibly extract the abundance of metals and minerals in the UK, recap on the work undertaken so far and illustrate the potential investment opportunities that lie ahead, with many fascinating presentations from the various attendees that demonstrated the importance of the growth and resurgence of the mining industry in Cornwall to the UK’s economy.

Cornwall is set to benefit for generations to come from new jobs, and economic growth utilising the assets we have right here – our landscape, and the determination of the Cornish people, and along with that, I will continue to do all I can to work with the Government to ensure the mining industry in Cornwall continues to get the recognition, support and resources it needs to be a world leader in these new and exciting technologies.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.