Name of the Project
James Bay lithium project.
Location
About 100 km east of James Bay and the Eastmain Cree Community in Quebec, Canada.
Project Owner/s
Allkem.
Project Description
The James Bay mine will include an openpit mine and concentrator facility, tailings, waste rock, ore and overburden storage areas, as well as related infrastructure.
The project is expected to produce an average of 311 000 t/y of spodumene concentrate, with an 18.8-year mine life, compared with the 321 000 t/y production targeted in 2021 over a mine life of 19 years.
The project includes a two-million-tonne-a-year process plant designed to produce up to 6% lithium oxide spodumene concentrate.
Potential Job Creation
The project will require 280 workers during the construction phase and a yearly average of 167 workers during the mine’s operation.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an estimated pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $2.95-billion, compared with the $823-million estimated in 2021. The project’s internal rate of return has increased from 45.8% in the 2021 feasibility study to 62.2%%. Payback is estimated at 1.4 years.
Capital Expenditure
Allkem reported in September 2023 that capital costs have increased from $285.8-million in the 2021 feasibility to $381.5-million in the updated feasibility study.
Planned Start/End Date
The project is expected to take 19 months to complete.
Latest Developments
Note stated.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Allkem, tel +61 7 3064 3600, or email info@allkem.co.