New WA lithium mine set to boost State’s battery mineral credentials

A new lithium mined which recently opened in WA is set to boost the State’s credentials as a battery hub.

Joint venture partners Covalent Lithium, Wesfarmers and Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) were congratulated by the State Government on the successful opening of the Mt Holland lithium mine and concentrator project.

WA Premier Roger Cook, WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti and WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael were on site to celebrate the occasion.

Located 110km southeast of Southern Cross in the Wheatbelt region, the Mt Holland lithium project consists of an open-cut mine and concentrator with a refinery currently being constructed in the Kwinana industrial area.

The project has an expected cost of $2.6b and is supporting 1000 jobs during construction and 350 jobs during operation.

Mt Holland will produce 380kt of spodumene concentrate per year, which will be refined into 50kt of battery-quality lithium hydroxide. This is enough to power one million electric vehicles. The Kwinana refinery is expected to deliver its first lithium hydroxide in early 2025.

First ore was mined from Mt Holland in December 2022 with crushing beginning in May 2023. The concentrator was successfully commissioned in the second half of 2023 and is now in its ramp-up phase.

Mr Michael says it’s great to celebrate this significant occasion.

“WA remains a globally significant battery and critical minerals processing hub and we are working hard to do all we can to further capitalise on this incredible opportunity,” he said.

“Lithium became WA’s second most valuable mineral in 2022-2023, with sales of $20b and royalties of $930m.”