Pigangoora gets going

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Lithium developer Pilbara Minerals has awarded several key contracts as part of its expedited construction schedule at the Pilgangoora lithium project, in Western Australia.

The ASX-listed junior on Monday said that the final contract for the Stage 2 plant construction had been awarded, and that bulk civil earthworks had started.

Pilbara MD Ken Brinsden said that the company’s development team was working hard with contractors to deliver on the aggressive development schedule that would see commissioning start in March next year, with first shipments scheduled for the second quarter of 2018.

“Following the final investment decision, we are now getting on with the job of delivering this world-class project as rapidly as possible, ensuring we can move quickly to deliver into the burgeoning lithium raw material demand growth we see from our existing customers and others, downstream in the lithium-ion battery supply chain.”

The project is currently expected to produce an average of 314 000 t/y of 6% spodumene concentrate and 321 000 lb/y of tantalite, over a mine life of 36 years. All project approvals are already in place.