WHITE HOT Print Post Approved PP 665002/00062 Approved Print Post

WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE December 2016 – February 2017 $3 (inc GST) WHITE HOT Print post approved PP 665002/00062 approved Print post Lithium plant adds value to WA resources development DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT International Trade and Investment Level 6, 1 Adelaide Terrace East Perth, Western Australia 6004 • AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 8 9222 0555 • Fax: +61 8 9222 0505 Email: [email protected] • www.dsd.wa.gov.au INTERNATIONAL OFFICES Europe — London Government of Western Australian – European Office 5th floor, The Australia Centre Corner of Strand and Melbourne Place London WC2B 4LG • UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 20 7240 2881 • Fax: +44 20 7240 6637 Email: [email protected] • www.wago.co.uk twitter.com/@wagoEU The year’s end sees Western Australia basking in gold and shimmering in the silver light of India — Mumbai lithium with the State’s resources sector continuing to shine. Western Australian Trade Office 93 Jolly Maker Chambers No 2 Western Australia is the world’s biggest gold province, with the value of the State’s gold sales 9th floor, Nariman Point • Mumbai 400 021 • INDIA increasing for the second consecutive year to reach a record $10 billion. Tel: +91 22 6630 3973 • Fax: +91 22 6630 3977 Gold exploration expenditure in the State has surged throughout 2016 and investment Email: [email protected] • www.watoindia.in interest in the State’s gold sector is on the rise (see story page 4). Indonesia — Jakarta Western Australia Trade Office The Western Australian South West town of Greenbushes is home to the world’s largest Level 48, Wisma 46, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kavling 1 single hard-rock deposit of lithium. Lithium concentrate has been produced from the Western Jakarta Pusat 10220 • INDONESIA Australian lithium operations for over 25 years. Tel: +62 21 574 8834 • Fax: +62 21 574 8888 Recent global demand for lithium has risen substantially due to its use in renewable energy Email: [email protected] storage, including rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. Japan — Tokyo Western Australian Government Office To meet this demand, a new $400 million lithium processing plant in Kwinana will produce 14th floor, Imperial Tower lithium hydroxide and is likely to see lithium production from the Greenbushes site double 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda-ku (story page 2). Tokyo 100-0011 • JAPAN Tel: +81 3 5157 8281 • Fax: +81 3 5157 8286 The State’s minerals sector has grown over the past year with volumes at record levels Email: [email protected] • www.wajapan.net (story page 6). Japan — Kobe In terms of investment, an estimated $97 billion of resources projects is under construction in Western Australian Government Office our State, with a further $46 billion of prospective projects on the horizon. 6th floor, Golden Sun Building 4-3-6 Nakayamate-dori Chuo-Ku • Kobe 650-0004 • JAPAN Western Australia continues its lead as the nation’s destination of choice for mining Tel: +81 78 242 7705 • Fax: +81 78 242 7707 investment with a strong and sustainable resources sector well-positioned for the New Year. Email: [email protected] • www.wajapan.net Bill Marmion Middle East — Dubai MINISTER FOR STATE DEVELOPMENT Western Australian Trade Office 106, Emarat Atrium Sean L’Estrange PO Box 58007 • Dubai • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM Tel: +971 4 343 3226 • Fax: +971 4 343 3238 Email: [email protected] • www.wato.ae Kenya — Nairobi Western Australian Trade Office ISSN 1037-4590 Kenya Representative Office Prospect PO Box 25567 Western Australian Prospect magazine is published quarterly by the Western Australian Government’s Nairobi 00603 · KENYA Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and Department of State Development (DSD). People’s Republic of China — Shanghai DSD Editorial management: Rebecca Atkinson, DSD Communications and Marketing Division. Western Australian Trade and Investment Office Tel: +61 08 9222 0417 • Fax: +61 08 9222 0505 Level 22 • CITIC Square 1168 Nanjing Road West DMP Editorial management: Beau Pearson, DMP Communications and Marketing Division. Shanghai 200041 • PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Tel: +61 08 9222 3736 • Fax: +61 08 9222 3862 Tel: +86 21 5292 5899 • Fax: +86 21 5292 5889 Subscriptions: www.dmp.wa.gov.au/prospect. Tel: +61 08 9222 3333 Email: [email protected] • www.westernaustralia.cn Disclaimer Singapore Prospect has been compiled in good faith by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and Department of State Development (DSD). Opinions expressed in Prospect are those of the authors and do not necessarily Western Australian Trade and Investment Office represent the views, or have the endorsement of DMP and DSD. DMP and DSD has used all reasonable 6 Temasek Boulevard #20-02 endeavours to ensure the material contained in this publication is correct, but it is intended to be general in nature. Suntec Tower Four No representation is made with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein. DMP and DSD disclaims any or all liability for loss or damage whatsoever suffered or incurred resulting from Singapore 038986 • SINGAPORE the use of or reliance on information contained herein. Readers of this publication should make and rely on their Tel: +65 6836 5626 • Fax: +65 6836 5698 own enquiries, research and judgements in making decisions affecting their own or any other persons interest. Email: [email protected] All currency figures in Prospect are in Australian dollars unless otherwise specified. South Korea — Seoul Western Australian Trade and Investment Office Cover photo: A new $400 million lithium processing plant in Kwinana will process Greenbushes spodumene rock (pictured – story page 2). Photo: Tianqi Lithium Australia. Unit 702, 7th floor, Kwanghwamoon Building 149 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-730, KOREA Tel: +82 2 722 1217 • Fax: +82 2 722 1218 Scan this QR code to view links to all the department’s publications Email: [email protected] • www.westernaustralia.or.kr In this issue 02 04 10 Copyright: Tianqi Lithium 16 18 21 Copyright: BHP Billiton Petroleum Australia 02 Silver light 16 Building Kambalda New WA lithium processing plant under construction to meet Iconic WA mining town celebrates 50 years since Australia’s rising global demand. first nickel mine was opened. 04 Golden State 18 Safety show Western Australia is the biggest gold province in the world and The 2016 Mines Safety Roadshow travelled across the State is attracting increased international investment interest. with the theme ‘pressing concerns’. 10 Abalone innovation 21 Competitive advantage WA company poised for international export after developing a WA’s first improvement scheme for major industrial areas world-first artificial reef to grow the seafood delicacy. gazetted over the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area. Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of State Development Department of State Development www.dmp.wa.gov.au www.dsd.wa.gov.au $400M WA LITHIUM PROJECT UNDERWAY Lithium hydroxide. Photo: Tianqi Lithium Australia. A new $400 million lithium processing “While Western Australia has been mining “This project is a major development for plant is under construction in Western and exporting lithium for more than 25 Western Australia and will boost the local Australia’s South West. years, this project introduces value-adding economy in Kwinana,” Mr Barnett said. secondary processing into the local Tianqi Lithium Australia is building the new “More than 115 employees will be needed plant in Kwinana, to process lithium from supply chain. once the project becomes operational spodumene, mined at the company’s “This is very positive news for growing the toward the end of 2018. Greenbushes mine near Bunbury. State’s economy as we seek to take a “The project will also generate benefits The Greenbushes mine is considered to greater role in processing our raw materials for the South West of the State, with contain the world’s largest and highest to produce higher value products.” production likely to double at the Greenbushes mine, near Bunbury, to supply grade spodumene reserves. Lithium has Tianqi Lithium Australia owns 51 per cent the Kwinana plant.” been produced from the Greenbushes of Talison Lithium, which operates the lithium operations for over 25 years. Greenbushes mine. Mr Marmion said the State Government Lithium – a soft, silver-white coloured metal had worked closely with Tianqi’s Australian Tianqi announced its final investment subsidiary to secure the investment for – and its compounds have several industrial decision for the Kwinana processing project applications, including heat-resistant glass Western Australia. in September and construction on the and ceramics, lubricants, flux additives for project commenced mid-October. “A concerted effort was made to ensure iron, steel and aluminium production, and a suitable site and cross-government lithium and lithium-ion batteries. The plant is expected to be completed approvals were secured, in order for a timely towards the end of 2018 and will have investment decision to be made,” he said. Global demand for lithium is rising due to the capacity to process spodumene into its use in renewable energy storage and “This is an important manufacturing project 24,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide. electric car batteries, as well as in the glass which adds value to natural resources and ceramics industry. The lithium produced by Talison Lithium is development in Western Australia and used in batteries for consumer electronics, increases our capacity to produce higher State Development Minister Bill Marmion electric bicycles, buses and passenger value products.” said the Tianqi lithium plant project was expected to create up to 500 jobs during vehicles. It is also used in aerospace alloys, the two-year construction period. wind turbines, glass and ceramics. “Demand for lithium is increasing rapidly Premier Colin Barnett attended the thanks to its growing use for renewable sod-turning ceremony in October at the energy storage and electric car batteries,” Kwinana site, along with Tianqi Lithium Mr Marmion said.

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