Ann: Mid-Stream Project Update, page-5

Mid-Stream Project Update
SCOPING STUDY SUPPORTS POTENTIAL IN VALUE-ADDED PATH BEYOND
SPODUMENE CONCENTRATES AT PILGANGOORA
KEY POINTS
• Scoping Study completed for the Mid-Stream Project process pathway and
potential Demonstration Plant.
• Scoping Study provides preliminary support for the construction of a demonstration
scale chemicals facility at Pilgangoora, producing value-added lithium phosphate
salts via an innovative refining process.
• Lithium phosphate salt selected as the preferred product, which is aiming to
support a highly viable feedstock for a number of battery chemicals manufacturers,
including the lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) battery cathode manufacturing
industry, as well as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production.
• Using Calix Limited’s (ASX:CXL) flash calcination technology, test-work has
confirmed high calcination conversion rates (>95% for alpha to beta spodumene
phase transformation) using fine flotation spodumene concentrate1 produced from
Pilgangoora.
• The contained lithia content of the product is expected to increase from ~5.7-6.0% in
spodumene concentrates to >36% in lithium phosphate salts, thereby optimising
offshore product logistics, reducing associated carbon emissions, and minimising
waste in the destination market.
• The Mid-Stream project has the potential to deliver significant sustainability
benefits across the lithium supply chain via:
o substantial reduction of carbon energy requirements by the complete
electrification of the Mid-Stream process, including spodumene calcining,
enabling the potential to power the project using up to 100% renewables
sourced power;
o rationalisation of the carbon footprint via reduced waste movement
requirements across transport and logistics supply chains from a more
lithium-dense, and near zero-waste final product; and
o improved lithium recovery from the ore resource, as the proposed refining
process should have the ability to treat very fine spodumene concentrates at
lower lithia grades, which have traditionally been problematic for calcination
in conventional direct-fired horizontal rotary calciners.
• Consistent with the previously announced MoU, Pilbara Minerals and Calix intend to
move forward with negotiations to establish a Joint Venture (JV) to potentially
develop a demonstration plant, and for the commercialisation of the Mid-Stream
process technology globally.