Page 12 - pd281-Apr20-mag-web_Neat

neWs

The start of the future in batteries

ustralia’s track record of making marks a significant step forward in Aus- tour of the facility.
Aproducts from its minerals and re- tralia’s aspirations of becoming a major “Out of this pilot facility will come all
sources isn’t as coveted as the actual en- processing, manufacturing and trading this information, which I believe will be a
dowment of commodities that enrich the hub in the battery minerals space. really big enabler for Australia and West-
lands down under. The flagship research project for the ern Australia.”
For that history to change in the bat- FBICRC is the cathode precursor pro- The customer base of BHP’s Nickel West
tery minerals sector, a whole-of-country duction pilot plant, with the stated ob- division has changed thanks to the rapid
approach is being taken to ensure Aus- jectives of the pilot being to establish rise of the battery minerals narrative in the
tralia’s participation right through the technical and processing capabilities to last three years, according to Frampton.
value chain is prominent. manufacture nickel-rich hydroxide pre- “As of today, 75% of the nickel we pro-
“Unfortunately, we do have a history cursors. duce in our refinery is sold to the battery
here in Australia of digging things out Essentially, the purpose is to push materials industries. It has been an enor-
of the ground, putting them on a ship, Australia further into the lithium-ion bat- mous turnaround. I think if we can extend
sending them a long way away and then teries value chain. our thinking and vision of what it could
spending more money to bring them “Out of this pilot plant will come re- mean for the whole supply chain then
back,” Australian Minister for Industry, ally important information; information going further downstream to precursors;
Science and Technology Hon Karen An- like how many people will be needed to there are enormous opportunities for
drews said at the official launch of the run these facilities, what are the tech- Australia,” Frampton said.
Future Battery Industries CRC (FBICRC) nical conditions to operate the facility Australia already produces nine of
last month. and what are some of the capital and the 10 mineral elements needed to pro-
Minister Andrews’ attendance and operating costs,” Gary Frampton, head duce most lithium-ion battery anodes
launch of the FBICRC at CSIRO’s head- of business development and technical and cathodes, while graphite is in abun-
quarters at Curtin University in Perth projects, BHP Nickel West, said during a dance, although not currently mined.

FBICRC chief executive Stedman Ellis

Page 12 aPRIL 2020 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT