Alkemy to build Australia’s first lithium sulfate plant at Port Hedland

Highlights:

• Alkemy to build an LSM plant at Port Hedland, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to serve as a refining hub for Australian miners.
• Port Hedland hosts the largest bulk export port in the world and the largest container port in Australia.
• The Pilbara is a major spodumene producing region and centrally located near existing and planned spodumene producers in Australia.
• Port Hedland LSM plant production will supply the expansion of TVL’s Wilton Lithium Hydroxide (LHM) facility, with Train 1 set to produce 24 000 tpy of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from 2024.
• Port Hedland LSM plant will offer Australian spodumene producers mid-stream processing options with direct access to the premium European battery market.
• Port Hedland LSM plant will export a higher-grade, lower-volume product resulting in less tonnage shipped and less transport carbon emissions.

Alkemy announces a plan to build an LSM plant at Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Train 1 of the Port Hedland LSM plant is set to process spodumene from Australian lithium miners to produce 40 000 tpy of primary LSM, with Trains 2 – 4 adding a further 120 000 tpy primary LSM production in future expansions.

The Port Hedland LSM plant, together with TVL’s planned LHM processing facility at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in Teesside, UK, will deliver a low carbon, de-risked lithium supply chain between Western Australian spodumene producers and the burgeoning European lithium battery cell market.

Sam Quinn, Alkemy and TVL Director, comments:

“Alkemy is delighted to announce its plans to develop the Port Hedland LSM plant.

“Working with leading global metals trader Traxys to source the spodumene feedstock for the Port Hedland LSM plant, Alkemy is now progressing discussions to finalise and secure the optimal site for the Port Hedland LSM plant and the definitive spodumene feedstock agreement to underwrite the development of the plant.

“Building the Port Hedland LSM plant will provide Australian spodumene producers with a complete mid-stream refining solution with direct access to the European market.

“Importantly, it will also bring major downstream processing and value adding to the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with significant multiplier benefits for the local community, whilst reducing the carbon footprint of the end to end lithium battery cell supply chain to meet new European emissions standards.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/trade-transport/09082022/alkemy-to-build-australias-first-lithium-sulfate-plant-at-port-hedland/