Tick for $1 billion lithium plant

The world’s biggest lithium producer has been given environmental approval to build a major processing plant near Bunbury in Western Australia.

Around 500 jobs will be created when Albemarle Corporation builds its $1 billion lithium plant in the Kemerton Industrial Area. Another  500 jobs will be created once production starts.

Albemarle’s joint partner, China’s Tianqi lithium at Greenbushes, is building a $700 million processing plant at Kwinana.

Both companies have spent $320 million to expand Greenbushes, with a further $600 million in upgrades needed  to increase the mines concentrate to 2.3 million annually from 2021.