PLS has reached a new milestone at Pilgangoora with the opening of Australia’s first mine-site lithium mid-stream processing facility, aimed at producing a higher-value battery material closer to the resource.
The project is designed to test whether more lithium processing can be undertaken at the mine site, reducing Australia’s reliance on exporting raw material for further processing overseas.
“The Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant has been developed to test whether greater value can be captured at the resource by producing a higher-value lithium product at the mine site,” PLS managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Dale Henderson said.
The demonstration plant forms part of PLS’ strategy to move further down the battery materials value chain by processing more material in Australia rather than exporting it for further processing overseas.
The facility uses electric calcination technology to convert spodumene concentrate from Pilgangoora into lithium phosphate, an intermediate product used in lithium-ion batteries.
The Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant was officially opened by Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, marking the start of the project’s next phase.
“Construction is now complete and our focus turns to commissioning, operational performance and commercial validation,” he said.
“If the technology performs and the product is embraced by the market, it creates a meaningful strategic option for PLS.”
Once fully operational, the plant is designed to process approximately 27,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate each year and produce around 3000 tonnes of lithium phosphate. Construction supported more than 100 jobs, while the facility is expected to create around 40 ongoing roles.
The project received support from both the Australian and Western Australian governments, including up to $38.1 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support operating costs during the validation phase.
“Their financial backing has helped bring the Demonstration Plant to this important milestone and recognises its potential to support lower-emissions processing and increased onshore value capture in Australia’s critical minerals sector.”
