The Australian Mining Review May 2026 Edition

Lithium hydroxide plant expansion paves way for WA's multi-billion dollar processing industry The WA Government has welcomed Albermarle’s announcement that it will expand its lithium hydroxide plant in Kemerton from two processing trains to four, making the plant the biggest and most advanced lithium hydroxide processing facility outside of China. As the State looks to ways to participate in the global battery and critical mineral supply chains, the four processing trains will double the plant capacity to 100,000tpa of lithium hydroxide product, at a cost of more than $1.5b (US$1b), paving the way for WA to...

Primobius receives Mercedes-Benz refinery purchase order Neometals’ (ASX:NMT) joint venture company Primobius has received a purchase order from Mercedes for a hydrometallurgical refining hub. A 50:50 joint venture between Neometals and SMS group, Primobius is an incorporated battery recycling company commercialising a patented lithium-ion battery (LiB) recycling process. Valued at $30.8m (€18.8m) the purchase order was awarded as part of a cooperation agreement with Mercedes. Under the agreement, Primobius is responsible for the engineering, equipment supply and installation of a 2500tpa fully integrated, closed loop Mercedes LiB recycling pilot plant. The hub is designed to match the capacity required to process intermediate feed material generated from the front-end refining Spoke. The Mercedes...

Image: Cox Architecture.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   FORMER WA Government architect Steve Woodland has unveiled plans to build a $100 million mining museum in Perth to pay homage to the State’s rich mining history.   Mr Woodland, who now works as a principal director at architecture firm Cox, said the proposed museum would act as an educational facility for children, and a place for events and celebrations. “The Museum of Mining WA could offer experiences like no other in the world,” Mr Woodland said. “Mining is in many ways a central part of who we are and yet our visitors see very little evidence of it in our city. “Many visitors are surprised — and disappointed — that it...

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