Albemarle chooses Metso equipment for lithium project in WA

Metso has been awarded a major contract to supply pyro-processing and comminution equipment for a new lithium hydroxide processing plant at Albemarle Corporation's Kemerton site near Bunbury in South Western Australia. The construction of this greenfield project started in January 2019 and production is scheduled to commence in 2021.

The plant will initially consist of three production trains, each producing 20,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium hydroxide, with a potential expansion to five trains that will see production increase to 100,000 tpa by around 2025. The plant will be supplied with lithium concentrate produced at the nearby Greenbushes mine.

Metso's scope of supply includes calciner and acid roaster systems, ball mills, off-gas handling systems as well as other auxiliaries. Metso's pyro-processing technology will deliver high lithium recovery with low fuel consumption.

"We are very pleased to be playing such an important role in Albemarle's plans as it races to supply booming world demand for battery-quality lithium chemicals," said Ross Wotherspoon, Metso's Senior Vice President, Australian market area. "Critical to the success of this project is the combined knowledge and experience of our people and Australian-based suppliers and subcontractors who are engaged to deliver major components of this important contract."

"Lithium projects are on the increase, and at Metso we have diversified our solutions and services to meet this growing demand,” said Victor Tapia, Metso's President for Mining Equipment business. "We are the technology leader in minerals processing with a strong and capable support organisation close to our customers."