Liontown boss hoses down risk talk from Rinehart camp

Brad ThompsonReporter

Sep 13, 2023 – 4.31pm

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Liontown Resources boss Tony Ottaviano says the company is about nine months away from having its flagship lithium mine built and in production despite Gina Rinehart fuelling concerns about the project.

Liontown chief executive Tony Ottaviano at the part-built Kathleen Valley mine in August. Evan Collis

The takeover target awarded the last of the construction contracts for the Kathleen Valley lithium mine and spodumene production plant on Wednesday, two days after Mrs Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting talked up its capacity to lend construction, mining and downstream processing expertise to the project.

“There is a clear line of sight to first spodumene production mid-next year,” Mr Ottaviano said in statement to the ASX regarding the awarding of a key contract.

The comment hoses down Hancock’s talk of “significant risk” hanging over Kathleen Valley.

Mr Ottaviano also said of engineering firm Monadelphous, which was awarded the final construction contract: “Their demonstrated skills, capability and professionalism reflects Liontown’s expectations of a partnership.”