Devon tungsten mine to reopen with £71 million government investment
The Hemerdon tungsten mine in Devon is set to reopen after eight years, backed by £71 million from the National Wealth Fund to secure domestic supply of the critical mineral.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A 160 year old mine in Devon is to reopen eight years after it closed. The Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine near Plymouth will receive up to £71 million from the National Wealth Fund, with the UK government saying it will ring fence 50% of what is produced for use in Britain.
Tungsten is used in military equipment and is currently heavily controlled by China. The mine is one of the world's largest deposits of the metal, but for nearly a decade the valuable ore has remained untouched. A previous operator stopped production in 2018 after going bust.
Those behind the new venture say they have invested heavily to improve processing, and with tungsten prices at record highs, it is the perfect time to restart production. The project gives the UK a long term equity investment in a world scale project, creating real jobs in the south west and adding economic benefit, as well as providing critical tungsten to support UK industry.
The region's mining industry played a key role in creating wealth centuries ago, and now it is hoped this new operation will boost both the local and national economy as the West looks to reduce its reliance on Chinese production of tungsten. This will be the UK's only operating tungsten mine and one of the biggest producers in the West. It is seen as a vital asset as the UK and its allies increasingly need this critical mineral for defence and wider manufacturing.
China controls 80% of global supply, with Russia and Vietnam the next two important producers. Having our own domestic supply means we have some degree of safety in terms of future manufacturing capabilities. The rebirth of mining here will provide some 350 new jobs and put the region on the map as an important player for the nation's economy.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| China supplies 80% of global tungsten. | · | |
| The Hemerdon mine is a 160-year-old operation in Devon. | · | |
| The Hemerdon mine is one of the world's largest tungsten deposits. | · | |
| The National Wealth Fund is providing up to £71 million. | · | |
| The previous operator of the Hemerdon mine stopped production in 2018 after going bust. | · | |
| The UK government will ring-fence 50% of the mine's production for domestic use. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC One West report focuses on the local and national significance of the mine's reopening, highlighting the economic benefits, job creation, and the strategic reduction of reliance on Chinese tungsten. It uses a reporter at the site to give a ground level view, and includes quotes from project backers and a government perspective.
- “What this gives the UK is is a long-term equity investment in a world scale project That's going to create real jobs in the southwest and it's going to add a lot of economic benefit to the UK as well as providing critical tungsten to support UK industry”
- “80% of global supply is from China and the next two important countries are Russia and Vietnam Having our own domestic supply means that we have some degree of safety in terms of future manufacturing capabilities”
This is the signed edition of BBC News at Six, so the content is identical to the main bulletin. The report places the mine reopening in the context of national security and supply chain resilience, highlighting the reliance on China and the strategic importance of tungsten for defence.
- “It's a really exciting project. Those behind this new venture say they've invested heavily to improve processing and with tungsten prices at record highs, it's the perfect time to restart production.”
- “This will be the UK's only operating tungsten mine and one of the biggest producers in the west. It's seen as a vital asset as the UK and its allies increasingly need this critical mineral for defence and wider manufacturing.”
Broadcast Timeline
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