Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has actually started manufacturing at what is Australia’s initial below ground lithium mine at Kathleen Valley, almost a year after beginning manufacturing from its 2 open pits.
In a news release Wednesday, the Australian miner stated the effective beginning of below ground manufacturing quiting from the Mt Mann orebody is a “crucial turning point” in the change from open pit to below ground procedures.
The business, backed by Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, initial began open-pit mining at Kathleen Valley in July 2024, with the objective of at some point transitioning to an underground-only procedure by the end of 2026 fiscal year.
The initial stope shooting drawn out approximately 1,500 tonnes of ore, component of a preliminary stope created to remove 12,000 tonnes– comparable to 2 days of plant manufacturing.
According to Liontown, the below ground mine is anticipated to supply unique benefits over typical open-pit procedures, consisting of lowered dilution and waste contamination, greater lithium recuperations, and boosted ore fragmentation for a lot more reliable handling.
The business, backed by Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, initial started open-pit mining at Kathleen Valley in July 2024
In March, the business carried out tests to validate the treatability of below ground ore, with a head quality of around 1.5% lithium oxide and recuperations going beyond 70%. More optimization is anticipated via healing renovation tasks, it kept in mind, targeting a recuperation of 78% throughout the life of mine.
Liontown Chief Executive Officer Tony Ottaviano stated the tests “supplied lead to line with our research job, which enhances our self-confidence in transitioning to complete below ground procedures.”
Moving on, the business will certainly stay concentrated on progressing the below ground decrease, opening up added workplace and increase mining task. As formerly mentioned, it goes for the mill to be provided only from below ground ore and accumulations by the 4th quarter of FY2026.
The Kathleen Valley procedures have actually been maximized to a preliminary capability of 2.8 million tonnes per year to create around 500,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate a year. A 4-million-tonne-per-annum development is intended in year 6, which is anticipated to supply around 700,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate. Its approximated mine life is 23 years.
Liontown presently has offtake contracts with LG Power Service, Tesla and Ford, all for preliminary regards to 5 years.
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