Lithium processing facilities dream for Pilbara
The State Government is keen on pursuing new downstream processing facilities in the Pilbara as the region’s lithium miners begin to realise the potential of the emerging sector.
Altura Mining begun moving lithium spodumene from Pilgangoora to Port Hedland in July ahead of it’s imminent first export to China.
A refinery and processing plant are being built in Kwinana, but Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the State also wanted to look at the Pilbara for similar industry.
“I think one of our challenges is to see if we can establish a processing of that lithium in the Pilbara,” she said.
“As a state we are absolutely determined to go through refining, electrochemical processing and battery production because we have every element of that supply chain.
“We want to keep alive the dream that we may be able to do that in the Pilbara, at least a number of the first two stages.”
In June, Neometals announced a plan to build a lithium processing plant in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
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