Australia’s next lithium producer is officially up and running after Core Lithium produced its first spodumene concentrate from the Finniss operation in the Northern Territory this week.
Core joins the likes of Pilbara Minerals, IGO and Mineral Resources as Australian companies producing lithium, which comes 15 months after the company began constructing Finniss.
The dense media separation (DMS) plant – which produces the spodumene concentrate – has been safely commissioned, marking the successful completion of construction at Finniss.
The maiden spodumene will be stockpiled at Finniss until there are sufficient volumes for Core to transport to Darwin Port and complete its first international shipment, which is targeted for the end of April.
The first shipment will be derived from commissioning concentrate from previously mined ore.
The company was affected by severe rainfall during December, which led to the accumulation of significant volumes of water at the base of the Grants pit, impeding production as a result.
Given the need to ramp up Grants and possible further adverse weather events, Core expects future spodumene production to commence from the mine by July 2023.
“Commissioning of the DMS plant represents the final step in the delivery of the Core’s first mining operation,” Core chief executive Gareth Manderson said.
“The safe and successful construction of the Finniss mining facilities during a global pandemic and through two Northern Territory wet seasons is testament to the resilience and hard work of the Core employees and contract partners, including a number of local Darwin suppliers.
“With construction complete, our focus moves to safely completing commissioning of the concentrator, delivery of our first cargo and ramp-up of operations at Finniss that will deliver high-quality, reliable volumes of lithium concentrate into a favourable market.”
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