Lithium Australia produces batteries from mine waste

Lithium Australia has announced the successful production of lithium-ion batteries using mine waste via its proprietary SiLeach process.

The West Perth-based miner’s wholly-owned subsidiary, VSPC, produced lithium-ion battery cathode material and lithium-ion batteries using tri-lithium phosphate.

According to an announcement from Lithium Australia, the cathode material was tested and deemed similar in quality to standard lithium-iron phosphate.

VSPC then used the material to produce coin cell lithium-ion batteries.

The batteries were tested and achieved equivalent performance to VSPC’s advanced cathode powders, which use lithium carbonate.

Lithium Australia is also currently looking at generating cathode powders from lithium brines, which would reduce the need for evaporation ponds.

This year, the company purchased two lithium projects in Germany for a combined $5.1 million and secured three highly prospective exploration licences about 100 kilometres south-west of Sandstone in Western Australia's Mid West.

Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said the result of the battery test was a remarkable outcome.

“The most notable aspect of this achievement is its simplicity, and ability to streamline the processes and cost required to produce LIB cathode materials,” he said.

“The broader application to lithium brine exploitation provides enormous potential for that part of the lithium industry, by removing the cost intensive route to lithium hydroxide, the direct use of lithium phosphate to produce cathode powders may do that.”

Shares in Lithium Australia were flat at 10 cents each at 1pm AEDT.