TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Australia-based Talison Lithium, the biggest producer of the battery-making ingredient, on Thursday posted record first-quarter earnings of A$6,3-million, which were 123% higher than the same period last year, as prices and output rose.

The company produced 88 315 t of lithium concentrate during the quarter, representing a 33% increase on the first three months of 2010.

The ceramics and glass industries are the biggest users of lithium, but demand from batteries used in cell phones, laptops and electric vehicles has soared over the past decade.

Earlier this year, Talison announced it will double production at its Greenbushes mine in Western Australia to 740 000 t/y of lithium concentrate.

This month, the company announced it had expanded the proven and probable reserves at Greenbushes by 157% to 31,4-million tons, which would support the planned growth in output.

The company also owns a lithium brines project in Chile.

Shares in Talison were trading flat at C$4,85 apiece by 15:11 on the TSX.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.