Copy From a TAW Thread, interesting:
A good summary from Roskill of 3rd quarter lithium production in WA.
H
https://roskill.com/news/lithium-th...australian-spodumene-miners-largely-positive/
Neither Tianqi or Albemarle report output and sales from Greenbushes. Based on cargo volumes from Bunbury, however, Talison shipped to China 72,352wmt of concentrate in July, 67,276wmt in August, and 35,329wmt in September, totalling 174,930wmt. Talison also shipped 9,003wmt to the USA and Europe representing technical-grade sales. Exports are up slightly from 173,562wmt in Q2 2018. Talison produced 31,000t LCE in Q3, 5,000t LCE higher than product export, with the difference perhaps due to timing of shipments versus production that would be expected to show in Q4, although some production may now be being held in Australia for processing at Tianqi’s Kwinana plant.
Neometals reported 111,023wmt (77,000wmt at 6.0% Li2O and 34,000wmt at 4.0% Li2O) of concentrate production in Q3 at its joint venture Mt. Marion mine, and shipped 91,313t to co-owner and off-taker Ganfeng Lithium. Construction of additional flotation concentrator circuits to upgrade all output to 6.0% Li2O is due for completion by end-2018 with full production at the higher grade from mid-2019. Neometals is progressing feasibility on its 10,000tpy lithium hydroxide Kalgoorlie Lithium Refinery Project with front-end engineering and design scheduled for completion end-2018 and an investment decision due by mid-2019.
Galaxy produced 31,156dmt for Q3 and shipped 29,555dmt with an average grade of 5.65% Li2O, down from 47,901dmt, 45,761dmt and 5.83% in Q2. Recovery fell to 42% from 56% in Q2. Output and recovery fell due to lower feed grade, a delay in permits for mining of a new area, and a delay to the yield optimisation project which aims to boost recovery to 70-75%. In Argentina, Galaxy aims to enter into a binding transaction with a strategic partner for development of its Sal de Vida brine project by end-2018 with US$257M received from the sale to POSCO of the northern tenements to be utilised for this project. Evaluation work also continues at the James Bay spodumene project in Quebec.
Tawana produced 28,419wmt for Q3, up 63% from Q2, and shipped 18,670dmt to off-taker Burwill Holdings. Spodumene concentrate produced and shipped has returned an average of >6.0% Li2O, <0.5% Fe2O3, and mica content of <0.5%. Tawana also recovered 374wmt of tantalum concentrate containing 16.4t of Ta2O5, which was sold to GAM under a one-off contract, and is engaging with H.C. Starck for long-term off-take. Tawana is investigating a fines recovery circuit to boost lithium recovery from 62% to 72-80%. Costs were US$660/dmt for Q3 net of tantalum by-product credits.
Pilbara Minerals produced 11,814dmt spodumene concentrate for Q3 but only sold DSO during the period with 205,766wmt supplied to Atlas Iron, up from 145,974wmt in Q2. First shipment of spodumene concentrate departed Port Hedland in early October containing 8,800wmt of coarse and fine material and grading 6.26% Li2O and 0.72% Fe2O3. Pilbara also produced 7.66t of tantalum concentrate and sold 2.26t to Global Advanced Metals (GAM). Contrary to other new producers, Pilbara prioritised its fines circuit commissioning given the larger output volume available while the DMS circuit was being commissioned. Pilbara did not report recovery levels, as some volumes will be reprocessed, but is aiming to reach 75% by mid-2019. The company also recently approved the Stage 2 expansion to 800,000tpy, subject to external approvals and funding.
Altura recorded spodumene concentrate production of 7,379wmt for Q3 and shipped two consignments of 5,000t to Chinese off-taker Lionergy in October. Spodumene concentrate produced and shipped has returned an average of 6.0% Li2O, 1.1% Fe2O3, and mica content of 0.8%. The company also secured an off-take with Ganfeng Lithium for minimum 218,000t through end-2018, replacing 50,000tpy previously destined for J&R Optimum Energy in China. Altura is now focussed on commissioning the fines plant to boost recovery, which is currently taking place in conjunction with production ramp-up.
Mineral Resources produced 358,000wmt of DSO from Wodgina and shipped 422,000wmt as the company winds down DSO sales to stockpile ore for future upgrading to 6.0% Li2O spodumene concentrate. Construction of the 750,000dmtpy spodumene processing plant, along with the associated crushing and nonprocess infrastructure upgrades, continued during the quarter, but commissioning will be delayed by eight weeks as a result of late delivery of long lead items and congestion in the Perth fabrication and rubber lining facilities. The first-stage 250,000dmtpy module is expected to begin commissioning in Q3 FY19 followed by stages 2 and 3 in Q4 FY19.
(20min delay)