Core Lithium has produced first spodumene concentrate at its recently completed DMS plant in the Northern Territory.
Construction at the plant commenced in November 2021 and Core has now established mining operations, water management infrastructure and a crushing facility.
The safe commissioning of the plant is a key milestone for the development of Core’s Finniss lithium mining operation, which opened in October 2022.
The first production of lithium concentrate from the DMS plant will remain at Finniss until enough is produced to be shipped from the Darwin Port.
This shipment is expected to be completed by the end of April 2023.
“Commissioning of the DMS plant represents the final step in the delivery of the Core’s first mining operation,” Core chief executive Gareth Manderson said.
“The safe and successful construction of the Finniss mining facilities during a global pandemic and through two Northern Territory wet seasons is testament to the resilience and hard work of the Core employees and contract partners, including a number of local Darwin suppliers.”
The first lithium concentrate shipment will be produced from previously mined ore, with future concentrate production being sourced from additional ore from future mining Core’s Grants pit.
“The approach to establish a mining operation, and in parallel complete the exploration work required to support potential future operations, is a credit to the business and its people,” Manderson said. “This approach has enabled Core to rapidly move the business to a position where concentrate production has now commenced.
“With construction complete, our focus moves to safely completing commissioning of the concentrator, delivery of our first cargo and ramp-up of operations at Finniss that will deliver high-quality, reliable volumes of lithium concentrate into a favourable market.”