Name of the Project
Kathleen Valley lithium/tantalum project.

Location
Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Liontown Resources.

Project Description
An updated prefeasibility study (PFS) has outlined stronger economics for the project, compared with the December 2019 PFS.

An increase in the ore reserve to 71-million tonnes grading 1.4% lithium oxide and 130 parts per million tantalum pentoxide has underpinned an extension to the mine life, from 26 years in the December 2019 PFS to 40 years in the updated PFS, while maintaining a two-million-tonne-a-year mining rate.

The updated PFS has also outlined an optimised openpit and underground mine plan, which provides earlier access to higher-grade mineralisation and an improvement in life-of-mine ore feed grade, from 1.2% in the December 2019 PFS to 1.4% in the updated PFS, increasing production to 350 000 t/y 6% lithium oxide content and 430 000 t/y of 30% tantalum concentrate.

Tantalum concentrate produced at Kathleen Valley will undergo off-site upgrades to produce a final 30% tantalum concentrate product.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project’s net present value has increased from $507-million in the December 2019 PFS to $1.12-billion in the updated PFS, while the internal rate of return has increased from 25% in the 2019 PFS to 37% in the updated PFS. Payback is estimated at three years.

Capital Expenditure
Capital expenditure is estimated at A$325-million, which includes A$67-million in openpit mine preproduction.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The updated PFS is expected to provide Liontown with a solid basis for a definitive feasibility study.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Liontown Resources, tel +61 8 9322 7431 or email info@ltresources.com.au