The Mining Journal Intelligence’s (MJI) Project Pipeline Handbook 2023 has announced the top-ranking mining project in all of Australia.
Achieving a score of 89 out of 100, Liontown Resources’ Kathleen Valley Lithium Project was named as the top project in the country and also ranked second in the world, only one point behind the Eskay Creek gold project in Canada, which scored 90.
The Project Pipeline Handbook 2023 assessed a selection of the 50 most promising mining projects worldwide, utilising an objective scoring methodology developed by MJI.
The method involves the collection of 25 key data points from economic studies, ranging from the early scoping stages to the comprehensive feasibility assessments. These data points are then inputted into a system that calculates a score out of 100. The Handbook assesses projects across 13 metrics, covering six key categories: Economics, Jurisdiction, Confidence, Financeability, Engineering/Metallurgy, and Geology.
The Kathleen Valley Lithium Project received a perfect score out of ten in the Economics and Financeability category, and a score of 9.3 in the Confidence category, based on the project’s Definitive Feasibility Study conducted in 2021.
On track to commence production in mid-2024, the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project is expected to supply approximately 500,000t of six per cent lithium oxide concentrate per annum. Lithium demand is projected to surge in the coming years due to its vital role in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market.
