PLS has opened Australia’s first mine site lithium mid-stream processing facility at its Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia.
The demonstration plant represents a major milestone in PLS’ strategy to process more battery material locally and capture greater value onshore rather than exporting raw spodumene concentrate for further processing.
In a world-first application for primary lithium processing, the plant utilises cutting-edge electric calcination technology developed by Australian tech company Calix Ltd.
The process converts spodumene concentrate into lithium phosphate, a crucial intermediate product used in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries.
When powered by renewable energy, this electric flash calcination removes fossil fuels from the traditional processing stage, significantly reducing emissions intensity across the supply chain.
The project has now entered its commissioning phase, with the first product expected in the September quarter of 2026.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to process approximately 27,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate annually to produce about 3,000 tonnes of lithium phosphate.
Premier Roger Cook said the project is a prime example of the state’s economic evolution.
“This demonstration plant is what my government’s Made in WA plan is all about,” Cook said.
“By supporting job-creating projects that will diversify and decarbonise WA’s economy, my government is supporting our state’s pathway to becoming a renewable energy powerhouse.”
The facility has drawn substantial government backing, including AU$38.1 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), AU$20 million from the federal Modern Manufacturing Initiative, and $15 million from the WA government’s Investment Attraction Fund.
PLS Managing Director and CEO Dale Henderson noted that the plant tests whether greater value can be captured directly at the resource.
“The mid-stream demonstration plant has been developed to test whether greater value can be captured at the resource by producing a higher-value lithium product at the mine site,” the CEO said.
Lithium phosphate produced during this validation phase will be supplied to global cathode leader Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology under an existing offtake agreement to assess market acceptance.
