PERTH (miningweekly.com) − Lithium miner Galaxy Resources has signed a technology licence agreement with US-based lithium ion battery producer K2 Energy Solutions, to assist Galaxy in constructing its proposed Jiangsu battery manufacturing plant, in China.

“Ensuring that we will be able to complete construction and operation of the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant in accordance with our revised timetable is our first priority, nonetheless, this licence agreement is important preparatory work for our proposed pipeline battery project,” said MD Iggy Tan on Wednesday.

Under the agreement with K2, Galaxy would have unrestricted and unlimited use of specific K2 lithium battery technology. Subject to board approval of the battery project, K2’s superior and proven lithium battery technology, coupled with Korean automated plant equipment, would help Galaxy to leapfrog research and development, and produce world-class lithium ion batteries.

Earlier this month, Galaxy pushed back its commissioning schedule for the Jiangsu lithium carbonate project, in China, on the back of construction and fabrication labour shortages, and said costs had risen to A$99.8-million.

The miner said that the new schedule indicated that the back half of the Jiangsu plant, which includes purification, drying, micronising and bagging would be completed during the third quarter of this year.

The front half of the plant, which includes calcination, sulphation, leaching and precipitation, was expected to be completed with commissioning to start during the fourth quarter.

The Jiangsu plant was initially scheduled to start up by the end of the second quarter.

The project’s capital budget also increased by around 36% to A$99.8-million.

The Jiangsu plant was expected to produce some 17 000 t/y of lithium carbonate once in full production and would be one of the largest plants in China converting hard rock lithium mineral concentrates into lithium compounds and chemicals.

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