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Add to Preferred SourcesEarthworks will now commence on a lithium processing plant in Western Australia that will create hundreds of extra jobs and provide benefits to thousands of local businesses.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said the proposed lithium processing plant at Kemerton by US Company Albemarle would be a major win for Western Australia and for our lithium industry.
“A project of this scale is a major boost for Western Australia’s economy with over 800 jobs expected to be created and significant flow-on effects for local businesses,” Minister Birmingham said.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matthew Canavan said the Government was focused on supporting the development of the lithium sector.
Senator for Western Australia Linda Reynolds said the renewable energy storage industry offers the most exciting new resources opportunity for WA in over 50 years, with WA producing 62 percent of the world’s lithium.
Australia has now attracted investment from two of the world’s largest lithium producers — Chinese company Tianqi and now US Company Albemarle who are both investing in downstream lithium processing in Western Australia. There are also three other processing plants in the development phase in Western Australia.
This investment comes also after the release of a new strategy by the Liberal-National Government to help maximise Australia’s potential as a world powerhouse in lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
The Commonwealth Department of Environment has now provided the relevant approvals for the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Original source: DFAT
Published on 3 January 2019