There is potential for A40 to partner with NMT to jointly develop a lithium hydroxide processing facility near Kalgoorlie. Spod can be sourced from Bald Hill which is within close proximity, along with some feed from Mt Marion which NMT recently agreed to sell their share of the mine to their partners, but have some rights to offtake option from 2020 (57ktpa, which is not a lot).
"Mr Calderwood said the existing producers potentially had decades left in their businesses through mine life extensions and growth in the electric vehicle industry, with scaling up from existing producers more likely to fill demand from converters than new producers.
He said the company would consider selling spodumene concentrate to WA-based refineries when it assesses new contracts, with Mt Marion part-owner Neometals working through plans to develop a lithium hydroxide processing facility nearby in Kalgoorlie-Boulder."