Talison Lithium's $516m Greenbushes mine expansion secures approval

Talison Lithium marks a new major milestone on its $516 million expansion of the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia, with the State Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) giving the approval for development.

Upon the approval of the project, the EPA is also encouraging Talison Lithium to protect the endangered wildlife - including the Western ringtail possum and Carnaby and Baudin’s black cockatoos - in the area by purchasing land and by funding a research program that will offset the loss of habitat from the delivery of the mine expansion.

According to EPA Chairman Tom Hatton, the project is not expected to result in an unacceptable impact on the area’s endangered wildlife.

“Clearing of 350 hectares of native vegetation on mining tenements - in State forest used for mining since 1888, timber and some agriculture - is unavoidable for the proposal to proceed,” Mr Hatton said.

The project will now undergo a four-week-long public review process and it is awaiting the final approval from the State Environmental Minister.

The Greenbushes mine expansion was first announced in 2018, which will include adding a third and, if possible, a fourth processing train as well as a new tailing retreatment processing plant to extract lithium.

Mondium - a joint venture company between Monadelphous and Lycopodium - has been awarded a $100 million contract earlier this week for the design and construction of the tailing retreatment processing plant.

Once expanded, the Greenbushes mine will have doubled its production from its current production rate.

The mine is located approximately 250 kilometres south of Perth and Fremantle and 90 kilometres south east of the Port of Bunbury.

Stay up to date with the latest industry news and project updates by subscribing to Felix Project News today.

Source: Australian Mining; The West Australian