Pilbara Minerals, China’s Ganfeng consider downstream plant
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Lithium producer Pilbara Minerals has signed a preliminary agreement with China’s Ganfeng to jointly consider the feasibility of a downstream lithium conversion plant.
The numbers: The study to consider the feasibility of 32,000 tonnes per annum plant is expected to be completed in the March 2025 quarter. It will consider location, sustainability and economics, and will have the option to progress to a final investment decision and joint venture after that.
Pilbara shares were down 0.77% to $3.88 in early trading on the ASX.
The context: Pilbara recently signed a fresh three-year deal to supply more spodumene concentrate to Ganfeng Lithium, one of its biggest customers.
The miner has been assessing long-term downstream opportunities as it works on boosting production at its flagship Pilgangoora mine in Western Australia — the world’s largest, independent hard-rock lithium operation.
It already has a downstream joint venture with South Korea’s Posco and another with ASX-listed Calix for a midstream lithium chemicals demonstrator plant.
The source: ASX announcement
