Works have commenced on Albemarle Corporation’s $1 billion lithium plant development in the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) - located approximately 17 kilometres north east of Bunbury - in Western Australia.
Earthworks are now underway on site following the environmental approval granted last November 2018.
“The site earthworks at Kemerton [today] are on track with our projections. Achieving this milestone underscores our commitment and confidence in developing LiOH (lithium hydroxide) operations in Western Australia and in our overall strategy to drive significant shareholder value and meet our customers’ demands,” Albemarle President, Lithium Eric norris said.
The new lithium hydroxide plant is going to be constructed on an 89-hectare site and once it is operational, it will be able to process spodumene ore concentrates from the Talison Lithium Greenbushes mine. The lithium plant at Kemerton is expected to produce up to 100,000 tonnes a year of lithium hydroxide.
“This initiative paves the way for additional downstream processing industries to be established in Kemerton in the future, which will mean more jobs for regional Western Australia.
“The announcement of the Albemarle Kemerton Plant underscores the importance of Strategic Industrial Areas,” Acting Premier Roger Cook said.
The new lithium plant is expected to create up to 500 jobs during its construction and an initial 100 jobs once it is operational, increasing to approximately 500 jobs at full operational capacity.
Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium plant is anticipated to begin commissioning in 2021.
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Source: Australian Mining; Albemarle Corporation; Government of Western Australia