South-West lithium driving job-creating global green energy future

The Western Australian (WA) Government has welcomed the rising demand for WA‘s spodumene concentrate. 

In a statement, the State Government said spodumene concentrate is an essential job-creating business that contributes to the preservation and growth of local job prospects.

The Greenbushes deposit is recognised as having the highest grade and one of the world’s largest hard rock spodumene resources. Its output accounts for around 22 per cent of the worldwide lithium market.

According to the WA Government, Greenbushes Lithium Operation has seen a surge in global demand, leading to record production and an increase of 190 new jobs over the last year, bringing the local operations staff to over 900.

Greenbushes produced a record 361,227 tonnes of spodumene concentrate in the September 2022 quarter, a 7 per cent increase over the June 2022 quarter.

From which lithium is generated, Spodumene concentrate is utilised in the production of a variety of products around the world, including lithium-ion batteries used to power green energy technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs).

“Based on the growing production and demand, Greenbushes is home to the highest grade lithium in the world, and reinforces WA’s strength and ability to supply the world with the battery and critical minerals it needs to transition to net zero,” Premier Mark McGowan said.

Premier McGowan stated that demand for green energy technologies like EVs is driving exploration and investment in WA, which has been his priority for the Government, noting it’s why he lobbied for Albermarke to establish operations in WA.

“My Government is committed to making sure this increase in activity delivers for communities in our regions, including for the future,” the Premier added.

To meet its expanding production needs, the Greenbushes Lithium Operation continues to hire people who primarily reside in and around the nearby communities of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Donnybrook, Nannup, Boyup Brook, Manjimup, Balingup, and Kirup. This operation also supports regional towns in the Warren-Blackwood area.

According to the State Government, WA is the world’s top lithium supplier, accounting for 52 per cent of worldwide supply in 2021 and accounting for 100 per cent of Australia’s lithium production in 2021.

Greenbushes alone supplied 50 per cent of Australia’s 267,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalents extracted in 2021.

The McGowan Government is dedicated to building WA’s future battery sector and transforming it into a substantial source of economic development, diversity, employment, and skills.

Construction is already underway, and additional plans are in place – subject to State approval – to expand the existing mine, ramping up its production capacity by approximately 50 per cent, and maintaining a production life of over 20 years, and is expected to support an additional 680 permanent jobs over the next five years, in addition to the 450-550 construction jobs that will be created.

The State Government said the expansion of the Greenbushes mine would assist the WA in increasing its participation in global battery and essential mineral supply chains and job-creating manufacturing prospects.

WA has started producing lithium hydroxide and expects to begin exporting it later in 2022, with the newly built Kwinana and Kemerton processing plants each capable of producing around 25,000 and 50,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year, respectively, using lithium concentrate from the Greenbushes mine.

Additional trains are being developed at these plants, doubling their production capacity, and the Greenbushes mine expansion will provide the feedstock required to grow these two distinct operations.

The Greenbushes mine provides lithium feedstock to Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia‘s lithium hydroxide facility in Kwinana, which supports 250 operating jobs and will produce a further 650 construction and operational jobs for train 2.

The Albemarle Corporation-operated lithium hydroxide facility in Kemerton, near Bunbury, also receives lithium feedstock and now employs 470 people, with an additional 1,300 construction and operational jobs expected to be generated with the expansion of trains 3 and 4.

“Today, we had the opportunity to see the growing operations and congratulate Talison Lithium and staff on the recent success of Greenbushes,” State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook said.

According to Minister Cook, the need for battery and critical minerals will only increase as the world continues to decarbonise. Minister Cook added that WA is well-positioned to meet the demand through businesses such as Greenbushes.

“WA is the powerhouse of the nation’s battery and critical minerals sector. The State accounts for half of global lithium production and is a major exporter of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths,” Minister Cook stated.

Talison Lithium is a joint venture (JV) between Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (a Tianqi Lithium Corporation / IGO Limited JV) and the Albemarle Corporation.

Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston said the McGowan Government is dedicated to capitalising on WA’s natural competitive advantages and expanding its participation in global battery and critical mineral supply chains.

“Guided by our Future Battery and Critical Minerals Industries Strategy, we’re committed to creating manufacturing jobs and supporting new skills,” Minister Johnston stated.

According to the Minister, WA has built a multibillion-dollar processing sector in less than a decade, including large-scale investments in battery-grade lithium hydroxide and nickel sulphate and rare earth processing plants.

“I’m pleased the Premier and Ministers had the opportunity to visit the operations and meet the team at Greenbushes, which is a significant contributor to Western Australia’s economy,” Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie said.

Kelsbie stated that the ability to convene Community Cabinet around the Warren-Blackwood electorate allows State Cabinet Ministers to visit local communities and hear directly from them.