Minerals Conversion Plant

Overview

Responding to global demand for an additional secure supply of lithium carbonate, Talison is pursuing its proposed plant to convert lithium minerals into lithium carbonate (Minerals Conversion Plant).

The Minerals Conversion Plant will enable Talison to convert lithium concentrate produced at the Greenbushes Lithium Operations into lithium carbonate.  The product will be packaged into shipping containers for export from Fremant Port to global markets. This will be the only plant of this type in the world outside China and will enable Talison to access a global customer base including Japan, South Korea, the USA and Europe.

Discussions with potential customers for the Minerals Conversion Plant are proceeding positively.  To accelerate the formation of customer relationships in Japan, Talison has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with Sojitz Corporation and Mitsui & Co Ltd to discuss on a non-exclusive basis collaborative marketing and distribution of lithium carbonate produced by Talison to customers in Japan.

Commencing in early calendar 2012, the next phase of the project includes an engineering study of a 20,000 tonnes per annum lithium carbonate plant located in Western Australia.  Talison is targeting commissioning of the plant in 2015 and anticipates making an investment decision on the project by the end of calendar 2012.

Location

The Minerals Conversion Plant will be located in the Kwinana Industrial Area in Western Australia.  The Kwinana Industrial Area is located approximately 40km south of Perth and 200km north-west of the Greenbushes Lithium Operations.

The Kwinana Industrial Area is one of the largest dedicated industrial areas in Western Australia and comprises a range of industries including fabrication and construction facilities, power stations, waste water plants, chemical manufacturers and alumina, nickel and oil refineries.

Talison selected the Kwinana Industrial Area as its preferred location for the Minerals Conversion Plant due to the similarities between the lithium carbonate plant and the surrounding industries; its proximity to water, reagent supply and energy; access to skilled labour, and close location to Fremantle Port for container exports.

The location of the Minerals Conversion Plant is set out below.