Altura Mining is preparing to raise production of spodumene concentrate from 220,000 tonnes a year to 100,000 tonnes at its $170m Pilgangoora lithium project in Western Australia's Pilbara. Commissioning is scheduled for the Q2, 2018, with first lithium concentrate sales in the Q2. J&R Optimum, the major shareholder in Altura, and Lionergy each have binding offtake agreements for a minimum of 440,000 tonnes a year of spodumene concentrate for an initial five-year period. Two significant players in the Chinese lithium battery market had encouraged Altura to pursue the production expansion to 100,000 tonnes.
Altura Mining is preparing to raise production of spodumene concentrate from 220,000 tonnes a year to 440,000 tonnes at its $170m Pilgangoora lithium project in Western Australia's Pilbara. Commissioning is scheduled for the Q2, 2018, with first lithium concentrate sales in the Q2. J&R Optimum, the major shareholder in Altura, and Lionergy each have binding offtake agreements for a minimum of 100,000 tonnes a year of spodumene concentrate for an initial five-year period. Two significant players in the Chinese lithium battery market had encouraged Altura to pursue the production expansion to 440,000 tonnes.