Alkemy's first lithium sulphate train cost $500m

A feasibility study into a Port Hedland battery minerals processing operation has determined a $500 million cost for the first of a possible four train plant, according to its proponent.

London Stock Exchange-listed Alkemy Capital Investments released what it called a class four feasibility study which shows the Boodarie project would have a net present value of more than $1.5 billion.

Alkemy said each of the four proposed lithium sulphate trains would refine approximately 180,000 tonnes per annum of Pilbara spodumene concentrate to produce 40,000tpa of lithium sulphate, with lithium content equivalent to 24,000tpa lithium hydroxide.

The company said the value of the Port Hedland Lithium processing business represented 27 per cent of Alkemy’s full project, which includes a 24,000 tonnes per annum battery-grade lithium hydroxide plant at the Teesside Freeport industrial area at Wilton in the UK.

Valued at $4.15 billion, the UK element is being developed by Alkemy’s subsidiary Tees Valley Lithium.

“Conducting the first part of the refining process in Australia minimises the quantity of waste material exported and reduces both the shipping cost and the embedded carbon of the resulting lithium products,” the company said in an announcement.

“This new Pilbara to Teesside supply chain epitomises the new critical minerals supply chains made possible under the recently signed free trade agreement between Australia and the UK and will leverage the competitive strengths of Australia in mining and minerals processing and the UK in chemical refining,” it added.