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An industry curtailed

he failure of the lithium market to ignite in 2019 had a devastating impact across the
T burgeoning lithium sector. While the juniors have been hit hardest, the established
players have also been forced to tighten the belts in the face of a flooded marketplace.

Mineral Resources Ltd Talison Lithium Ltd Under the new strategy, Sal de Vida
In November, MinRes reduced its lithium The Albemarle Corp/Tianqi Lithium Corp will be built over 2-3 stages to “smooth
exposure by handing over 60% of its JV remains Australia’s premier lithium capex and reduce project risk”. The
Wodgina project to US lithium giant producer through its Greenbushes mine plan is to simplify the flowsheet and split
Albemarle Inc in a $US820 million deal. in WA’s south-west. production into two modules, with pro-
MinRes also receives a 40% interest in A recent expansion to 1.34 mtpa will duction from Stage 1 expected to start in
Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium hydroxide make it the cornerstone of the Kemerton 2022. Stage 2 would follow 6-12 months
converstion plant project. hydroxide plant. later with the purification facility now
The new JV immediately placed Wod- held back until state 1 is up and running.
gina on care-and-maintenance, cit- Galaxy Resources Ltd The company is also hunting for a pro-
ing “challenging global lithium market An Australian lithium upstart from a time ject partner for the development.
conditions and to preserve the value of when a global EV demand was fantasy, At its existing Mt Cattlin mine, the strat-
the world-class Wodgina spodumene Galaxy has ridden the waves of the egy is to focus on quality over quantity
orebody”. lithium tide. after a planned summer hiatus. Front-
This leaves Mt Marion – the company’s The company restructured its strategy in end ore sorters have been commis-
50/50 JV with Gangfeng Lithium – where 2019, choosing to focus on accelerated sioned to upgrade low-grade stockpiled
an expansion from 200,000 tpa lithium development of its Sal de Vida brines ores, allowing Galaxy to slow mining
concentrate to 450,000 tpa is under way. project in Argentina. and processing while still meeting 2020
contractual obligations.

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT aPRIL 2020 Page 41