13 February 2025
The Boards of Directors of Pilbara Minerals Limited (PLS or the Company) and Calix Limited (Calix) have formally approved the resumption of the Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant Project (the Project) following the recent award of a $15 million grant from the Western Australian Government.
The Project will now resume at PLS’ Pilgangoora lithium operation in the Pilbara after it was temporarily paused in October 2024 following challenging lithium market conditions.
PLS Managing Director and CEO Dale Henderson said he was pleased to see construction of the innovative Project back underway.
“Thanks to the WA Government we are able to complete construction of the Mid-Stream Demonstration Project which has the potential to be a game-changer for the hard rock lithium processing industry,” Mr Henderson said.
“This technology could create additional local jobs in Western Australia while producing a higher-value, lithium-enriched product at the mine site. This more concentrated product reduces transport volumes to our customers and ensures more value is captured onshore for Australia.”
The Project is a key part of PLS’ strategy to become more deeply integrated in the battery material supply chain.
“Australia has an opportunity to do more than dig and ship our minerals and through this joint venture we’re looking to prove up a new way to make this possible, not only for PLS, but for the whole industry,” Mr Henderson said.
Procurement activities will resume immediately with all construction works expected to be completed in the December Quarter 2025.
The Project will create around 80 jobs during construction and 35 jobs during its operational phase with the potential for further job growth if the Project is expanded to full scale.
The Project, a joint venture between PLS and Calix, aims to construct and operate a demonstration scale plant featuring the world’s first industrial scale electric spodumene calciner – decarbonising one of the most carbon intensive processes in the battery materials supply chain.
The Project is also supported by $20 million funding from the Australian Government through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.