Talk about pesky confidential complex discussion; The Australian...

Talk about pesky confidential complex discussion;

The Australian 25/1/2024;
Crisis talks with critical minerals industry;

Production credits and royalty relief are expected to be the top items on Thursday's crisis meeting agenda between ministers and beleaguered WA lithium and nickel producers.

The roundtable between mining bosses, federal resources minister Madeleine King and WA mines minister David Michael follows a horror start to 2024 for the Australian nickel and lithium sectors, as tumbling prices forced the closure of nickel mines and the mothballing of under-construction lithium projects.

Pilbara Minerals boss Dale Hendersen says the lithium sector could experience more wild price swings until supply and demand levels stabilise into a more predictable price cycle, as the lithium major pushes ahead with major expansion plans to keep close to the bottom of the lithium cost curve.

The lithium producer said on Wednesday it will push ahead with plans to expand its Pilangoora lithium project to a million tonnes per year export rate, despite crumbling lithium prices almost halving the company's revenue in the December quarter.

Pilbara Minerals warned the company was unlikely to pay an interim dividend when delivering its half-yearly financial results in February, preferring to hold onto cash to ride out the lithium price crash.

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