PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Lithium carbonate production from the Olaroz facility, in Argentina, was expected to reach between 600 t and 650 t in January, owner Orocobre said on Thursday.
The ASX- and TSX-listed company noted that 427 t of lithium carbonate were produced during the month of December, up 62 t on November production.
However, production during December was negatively impacted by the need for structural repairs on rake arms in the thickener and the planned installation of the additional boiler and associated works.
It was estimated that about 150 t of production was lost in December owing to the remedial works.
Meanwhile, Orocobre noted that the debottlenecking work at Olaroz was nearing completion, with the additional boiler, second centrifuge and pond flocculant dosing system installed.
The debottlenecking works would likely be completed in January, at which point the plant would achieve the operating cost break-even run rate and enter the final stages of production ramp-up.
The project had a nameplate capacity of 17 500 t/y.