Covalent Lithium Pty Ltd has lodged a proposal with Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) seeking approval to expand its existing mining and processing operations in the Goldfields region, as part of efforts to increase lithium production for the growing clean energy supply chain.
Located about 100 kilometres south-southeast of Southern Cross, the proposed expansion would significantly scale Covalent’s operations in the Mt Holland area.
The company aims to duplicate its current processing plant to achieve an additional throughput capacity of up to 4.4 million tonnes of lithium ore per annum.
The expansion forms part of ongoing development within the Goldfields–Esperance region, a key zone supporting Western Australia’s critical minerals industry.
According to the EPA’s published details, the expansion involves the clearing of a further 1,443 hectares of native vegetation within a revised development envelope covering 4,009 hectares.
This clearance is in addition to the 442 hectares already authorised under Ministerial Statement 1199.
The additional land will accommodate an enlarged mine footprint and new infrastructure required to support the higher ore output.
The proposal includes several major infrastructure additions such as new waste rock landforms and a tailings storage facility to manage mining and processing wastes.
Covalent also plans to expand existing support structures, including the accommodation village, ore and rehabilitation stockpiles, materials laydown areas, mine access roads, and communications and power networks.
Additional facilities would include an evaporation pond and updated water disposal systems to service the larger operation.
The EPA’s summary notes that the proposal has been referred for assessment under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and has been assigned Assessment Number 2387.
The current stage of evaluation is under the category “Assessment on Proponent Information – Request for More Information”, indicating that further details have been requested from Covalent to inform the environmental review process.
Covalent Lithium is a joint venture between Wesfarmers Ltd and Chile’s Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), established to develop the Mt Holland lithium project, which includes both mining and chemical processing facilities.
The expansion proposal follows continued global demand for lithium hydroxide, a critical input in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems.
The company’s Goldfields operations, once expanded, are expected to contribute additional supplies of spodumene concentrate for downstream lithium processing, supporting Western Australia’s position as a key supplier in the global battery materials market.
Covalent has stated previously that its operations adhere to stringent environmental and rehabilitation standards, with progressive land management and revegetation practices incorporated into its lifecycle plans.
The expansion proposal and accompanying Proposal Content Document – October 2025 are publicly available via the EPA’s website for community and stakeholder review.
The review processes will guide whether the expansion proceeds to full approval.
WA’s EPA will assess the potential environmental impacts of the expanded development, including vegetation loss, water use and waste management.
Its recommendations will later inform the state government’s final decision on the project’s environmental acceptability.
The proposal’s last update on the EPA’s register was recorded on October 5, 2025, under the agency’s lithium industry sector category for the Goldfields–Esperance region.
