Perth, 18 December, 2018 – Tianqi Lithium Australia has announced the official staff move to Kwinana to prepare for the commissioning and ramp up of the first lithium hydroxide processing plant in Australia.
Tianqi Lithium's Kwinana plant will be the site of two identical processing trains with a total 48,000 tonne capacity constructed in two stages. Stage One commissioning will commence at the end of this year, while Stage Two, currently under construction, is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2019.
"We are pleased to hit another milestone in Australia" said Tianqi Lithium President, Vivian Wu, "The Kwinana plant is Tianqi's first fully automated lithium chemicals manufacturing facility outside of China. It shows our commitment to serving our customers worldwide, as well as the downstream new energy industry with world-class battery grade lithium hydroxide.'
"We look forward to becoming part of the local workforce, creating jobs and boosting the WA economy from our Kwinana site," said Tianqi Lithium Australia General Manager, Phil Thick, "at the same time Tianqi Lithium remains committed to our program of community investments and partnerships – particularly through education, the arts and at grassroots level – to help build a stronger and more vibrant Kwinana.”
The two-stage project has created more than 700 construction jobs and at completion will include more than 170 full-time production jobs. The project has received great support from local community since it began. Deputy Premier and Member for Kwinana Hon. Roger Cook MLA and City of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams were present at the opening, to celebrate this milestone with Tianqi Lithium staff.
About Tianqi Lithium
Listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code: SZ.002466), Tianqi Lithium is a leading new energy materials company in China and globally, with lithium at its core. The company's major businesses include lithium compounds and derivatives manufacturing, and lithium resource development and exploitation. The company has well established presences in China, Australia and South America, allowing the company to service customers across Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
