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Pilbara Mineralsbecomes a lithium hydroxide producer
TOM PARKER22 hours ago
Pilbara Minerals has become the latestmining company to add lithium chemicals to its portfolio, with its lithiumhydroxide operation officially opened last week.
The company was in South Korea to cutthe ribbon on Train 1 of the chemical facility, which it shares in a jointventure (JV) with POSCO.
Pilbara Minerals owns 18 per cent ofthe plant, with POSCO owning the other 82 per cent. Pilbara has the option toincrease its stake to 30 per cent at any time up to 18 months after thefacility reaches 90 per cent of nameplate capacity.
Completion of the lithium hydroxidemonohydrate conversion facility is the culmination of years of work betweenPilbara Minerals and POSCO.
“Pilbara Minerals began discussionswith POSCO about this chemical facility in 2018 and so today is a momentousoccasion for both parties as we progress our strategy of diversifying into thedownstream value chain,” Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executiveofficer Dale Henderson said.
“Together we look forward to becominga meaningful producer of lithium hydroxide, supporting the world’s transitionto a more sustainable energy future.”
Train 1 of the facility is designed toproduce 21,500 tonnes per annum of lithium hydroxide when at nameplatecapacity.
Pilbara Minerals’ POSCO JV is not theonly downstream lithium opportunity the company is exploring, with a final investment decision made on its Calix JV in August. This will see a demonstration plant built to explore the possibility of producing midstream lithium phosphate through electric calcination.
“Market engagement with participantsin the battery and chemicals supply chain has encouraged the pursuit of themidstream product and confirmed that it has strong potential to be an improvedlithium feedstock for the lithium chemicals industry,” Pilbara Minerals said in a statement in August.
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