'The company isn’t contemplating the building of a refinery or producing lithium carbonate'.
That is blatant mischievous unsubstantiated misinformation on your part. You have no knowledge of AVZ's future plans! Just because they haven't announced something yet doesn't mean they won't do it!
On logic alone, a concentrating plant looks a given, considering the enhanced value of concentrate, and how together with tin credits can essentially negate transport costs, the cost of mining and the cost of processing.