West Australia looks to produce half the world’s supply of lithium

The open pit mines at Pilbara currently supply lithium and tantalum ores or concentrates, but several companies are planning processing further down the supply chain, all the way to batteries themselves.

Tianqi Lithium (lithium hydroxide) and Nickel West (nickel sulphate) are already establishing downstream processing operations on the industrial strip while Kidman Resources and its joint venture partner, Chile’s SQM, are also examining Kwinana, among other sites, as the potential location for a planned lithium carbonate plant.

Western Areas and Independence Group have also flagged moves towards value-added processing.

Lithium Australia chairman George Bauk noted in the company’s annual report last month that the Kwinana/Rockingham area could be destined to become the world’s battery production centre.

West Australia looks to produce half the world’s supply of lithium