Calix and Pilbara Minerals advance lithium processing technologies

Industrial technology company Calix and Pilbara Minerals have made ‘significant progress’ in the development of their mid-stream lithium processing demonstration plant which aims to be a model for a full-scale lithium processing industry. The companies have been developing a demonstration plant at Pilbara’s Pilgangoora Project in Western Australia (pictured) to produce lithium salts from ores…

WA and Indonesia’s action plan for critical minerals

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has signed a Plan of Action with Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) during the Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s visit to Australia. The agreement will further strengthen Western Australia’s economic ties, trade, and supply chain opportunities with Indonesia, including cooperation in critical minerals sectors. It follows the…

Townsville vanadium battery electrolyte facility opens

Miner and manufacturer Vecco Group has officially opened its Townsville facilty to manufacture electrolyte for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) was on hand for the opening and went on social media to call it a ‘big win for Queensland’. Palaszczuk said: “We officially opened Vecco Group’s Vanadium Battery Manufacturing Facility,…

Critical minerals strategy will achieve only limited local value-adding

By Peter Roberts Australia’s new Critical Minerals Strategy aims to increase the value added onshore to Australia’s vast mineral resources, rather than simply exporting undifferentiated mineral commodities. However it stops short of being the comprehensive policy we need to develop value-added industries. The strategy sets out a vision to grow our critical minerals wealth, create…