Industrial technology company Calix and Pilbara Minerals have deferred any construction works not under contract at their $105 million Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant at Pilbara’s Pilgangoora Project in Western Australia.
The project, supported by $20 million through the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative, is 60 percent complete but will be paused until lithium markets return to normal or further government assistance becomes available.
A an initial payment of $8 million has already been received for the plant which aims to demonstrate the production of lithium salts through an ‘innovative midstream value added refining process’ utilising Calix’s patented low emission calcining technology.
In 2023 Calix and Pilbara Minerals reported ‘significant progress’ in the development of the mid-stream lithium processing demonstration plant.
However while a boom in lithium prices in 2022 and 2023 ignited a number of lithium projects, this era has been replaced by an oversupply likely to last through to 2028.
The two companies said today that they remained committed to the progression of the demonstration plant and would continue to work with government in relation to further funding options.
