BGC Contracting undertakes earthworks on $1bn Kemerton lithium project

With early works ramping up at the site of Albemarle’s $ 1 billion Kemerton lithium project, BGC Contracting has announced that it is undertaking the earthworks which commenced in January of this year. This is the company’s first venture into the “Lithium Valley” of Western Australia.

“The demand for lithium and other specialty metals is growing worldwide and it is exciting for everyone at BGC Contracting that we are involved at this early stage.

“This is a great project for BGC Contracting and for the southwest. It gives us a chance to grow our reputation in the region whilst providing new job opportunities for up to 100 local residents,” BGC Contracting Project Director John Beattie said.

BGC Contracting’s scope of works include early construction access as well as the installation of site facilities, site clearing, topsoil management, cut to fill and underground piping and electrical cable installation.

BGC Contracting CEO Greg Heylen said: “This contract puts us in good stead to compete for future stages of the project, including significant packages for piling, roads and concrete foundations.”

The Albemarle Kemerton Plant is located in the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area of WA, approximately 17 kilometres north east of Bunbury and 160 kilometres south of Perth. The new lithium hydroxide plant will be processing spodumene ore concentrates from the nearby Talison Greenbushes mine and the plant will have a production capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes a year by 2025.

Approximately 500 jobs are expected to be supported during the Kemerton plant’s construction and an initial 100 jobs once the plant is operational, ramping up to 500 jobs at full operational capacity.

Earlier this month, Civmec has also announced that the company was awarded the contract to build the lithium hydroxide plant. You can read more about it here.

Construction on the Kemerton lithium project is due to be completed by March 2021.

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Source: BGC Contracting; Australian Mining; Albemarle