Australia 's Talison Lithium is to spend A$ 600 m ( $ 480 m ) doubling the output of its Greenbushes mine in Western Australia to meet growing demand . The development comes on top of an existing A$ 320 m expansion and will take the mine 's total capacity to 2.3 million tonnes of lithium ore per year . Talison, owned by China’s Tianqi Lithium and US-based Albemarle Corp, is expected to make a final investment decision in July, with the company hoping to start development work at the end of the year to enable it to commission the first of the new plants in 2020. Talison , which is owned by China 's Tianqi Group and US - based GE , said a final decision on the expansion plans will be made in July , with work likely starting at the end of 2018 . The mined ore will be processed at Tianqi and Albermarle lithium plants in Australia .
Australia 's Talison Lithium is to spend A$ 600 m ( $ 480 m ) doubling the output of its Greenbushes mine in Western Australia to meet growing demand . The development comes on top of an existing A$ 320 m expansion and will take the mine 's total capacity to 2.3 million tonnes of lithium ore per year . Talison , which is owned by China 's Tianqi Group and US - based GE , said a final decision on the expansion plans will be made in July , with work likely starting at the end of 2018 . The mined ore will be processed at Tianqi and Albermarle lithium plants in Australia .