:: Lithium Australia Commits to SiLeach^® Large-Scale Pilot Plant

Large quantities of lithium continue to be discharged to waste streams emanating from the production of a range of industrial minerals. Such waste streams, which most commonly contain lithium micas, may prove the most cost-effective source of primary lithium. The development of more efficient processing technologies to allow exploitation of such materials is a major corporate achievement of Lithium Australia NL.

In July 2017, Lithium Australia completed a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) on the application of its revolutionary SiLeach® technology to the recovery of lithium chemicals from micas. The PFS identified the water balance as a critical area for consideration. As a result innovative process steps have been developed to improve the water balance, as have processes that capitalise on the co-production of potassium sulphate, a critical step in achieving optimum financial performance.

Lithium Australia now has sufficient confidence in its SiLeach® technology to commit to developing a large-scale pilot plant (LSPP), has approved the front-end engineering and design (FEED) and will procure long-lead equipment in an effort to reduce the time frame through to commissioning and production, currently scheduled for early 2021.

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