ARTICLES
Australian Companies should develop a Lithium Industry (continued)
Initial steps have already been taken.
Fortunately, production has already moved to the next phase
of the chain, with major investment in the refining of lithium in
Western Australia., where the Department of Jobs, Tourism,
Science and Industry (JTSI) advised ‘The New Daily’ that a
$700M lithium processing plant is currently being built by Chinese
group, Tianqi Lithium, to employ 175 once it is operating, whilst
US company, Albemarle, is also constructing a $1Bn plant
near Bunbury, employing up to 500 at full production. Another
proposed refinery, Covalent Lithium (a joint venture of SQM and
Kidman Resources) has estimated its $849 million plant will
employ around 180 people, according to JTSI.
However, if Australia is to get a bigger slice of the billions on
offer in the global lithium and battery boom, it must maintain
the momentum, Mr Ellis said. “The world of battery industries is
moving quickly, so if Australia is to compete for a larger share of
the opportunity, it has to move quickly!”
Mr Ellis said it would be naive to think Australia could compete
with China for the mass production of batteries, but we could
benefit from countries that might prefer to diversify their supply
chain by purchasing from an alternative source, to be confident
that the materials will certainly be supplied; and feel certain about
the methods and work practices employed in the manufacture of
any batteries.
This article was initially published in ‘The News Daily’ on 27th May,
2019. The Science Teachers’ Association of NSW and ‘Science
Education News’ sincerely thank ‘The News Daily’, in particular,
journalist Mike Bruce, for its republication, and providing so much
material and data for it, – Ed.
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 4