PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Joint venture (JV) partners Mineral Resources (MRL) and Albemarle Corporation have taken a decision to restart the Wodgina lithium mine, in the Pilbara.
Wodgina, which was placed on care and maintenance late in 2019 owing to low lithium prices, is expected to start concentrate production by the third quarter of 2022.
The project has installed processing capacity of 750 000 t/y of spodumene concentrate, and the mine is serviced by its own 64 MW gas-fired power plant, a 700-bed accommodation village and an airfield capable of landing A320 aircraft.
The MARBL JV will initially focus on restarting one of Wodgina’s three 250 000 t/y processing lines, and when market demand is sufficient, additional processing lines may be recommenced. The start-up and initial operating phase at Wodgina is expected to create 200 new full-time jobs.
“We are delighted that the MARBL JV has decided to restart Wodgina, a world-class lithium opportunity that MRL developed into a mine with world-class potential,” said MRL MD Chris Ellison.
“It was the correct decision in late 2019 to place Wodgina on care and maintenance though it never dented our confidence in lithium’s long-term positive demand fundamentals. As we said at the time and repeat today, in Albemarle we have the best partner to deliver maximum and sustainable value from world-class assets like Wodgina.
“Lithium is one of MRL’s two core commodities, alongside iron-ore, and we have worked very hard over the past five years to establish long life operations for both. Wodgina, along with our 50%-owned Mt Marion lithium project in Western Australia’s Goldfields and the soon-to-be-completed 40%-owned Kemerton hydroxide facility, give MRL a world-class portfolio of highest-quality, long-life lithium assets in a tier 1 mining jurisdiction.”