Pilbara grants $104.9 million lithium demonstration plant the green light 

Calix, a company that makes environmental technology, and Pilbara Minerals, a lithium miner, have made the final investment decision to build a $104.9 million demonstration plant that can process a lithium-enriched product from low-grade spodumene and produce over 3,000 tons of lithium phosphate per year. 

Pilbara Minerals’ Managing Director and CEO, Dale Henderson, said: “Following further studies and pilot test work, we are delighted to be taking the next step in our mid-stream strategy with the construction and operation of a Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant with our JV partner Calix.” 

The two ASX-recorded organisations declared a joint endeavour for the Pilgangoora Venture in November last year, with “significant progress” revealed to keep going a month on activities including definite front engineering and design (FEED).

To produce their first lithium salt in the June quarter of 2025, the pair plans to finish detailed engineering in the March quarter of 2024. 

Pilgangoora is 55% claimed by Pilbara and 45 percent by Calix and utilises Calix’s glimmer calcination innovation, which can be worked utilising sustainable power. 

A joint assertion by the two organisations describes the critical targets as including: generating supporting data to demonstrate that conventional calcining has lower capital and operating costs; demonstrating that on-site production of a lithium-rich mid-stream product reduces waste transportation; and produces sufficient Mid-Stream Items to test market valuing. 

“Together with Pilbara Minerals, we look forward to demonstrating the potential of our electric calcination technology to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of Australian lithium,” said Managing Director of Calix, Phil Hodgson. 

The project will be funded by a $67.4 million venture from Pilbara, which will oversee development and activity, $17.5 million from Calix, and a $20 million award from the national government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative. 

“The success of the joint venture will also showcase the opportunity of combining Australian mineral and renewable energy resources with innovative Australian technology to enable the reliable and sustainable supply of value-added critical minerals to the world,” said Hodgson.