Tag Archives: Kemerton

Monadelphous rewarded with A$200M contract at Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant

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Engineering company Monadelphous Group has secured a major construction contract with Albemarle valued at approximately A$200 million ($135 million) associated with the expansion of the Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant in the south west region of Western Australia.

The contract includes front-end pyromet structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works associated with two new lithium processing trains (trains 3 and 4).

The award follows the successful delivery of construction packages on trains 1 and 2, and the recently awarded long-term maintenance and sustaining capital projects contracts at Albemarle’s Kemerton operations.

Work will commence onsite later this year and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025.

Monadelphous Managing Director, Zoran Bebic, said this award, in addition to the award announced last week with Fortescue Metals Group for work at the Christmas Creek mine site, represent the first in a new wave of major construction projects to come to market.

The company’s work at Christmas Creek involves the supply and construction of an overland conveyor and transfer station, with the scope including civil, structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works.

“We are extremely pleased to have secured these key construction opportunities, and look forward to continuing to deliver high quality solutions for customers, as well as supporting local communities through the provision of employment and supply opportunities,” he said.

Albemarle says expansion of Kemerton represents the biggest investment by any company in downstream processing of lithium in Australia.

The Kemerton plant initially consisted of three production trains, each producing 20,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide, with a potential expansion to five trains that will see production increase to 100,000 t/y by around 2025. The plant will be supplied with lithium concentrate produced at the nearby Greenbushes mine.

DB Schenker joins engineering team for Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium expansion project

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DB Schenker says it has been awarded the contract to provide comprehensive project construction freight forwarding and logistics services to Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium expansion project (KEP) in Western Australia, supporting engineering contractor will be Hatch Australia.

The KEP is DB Schenker’s first foray into the rapidly growing battery metals mining industry, with the plant approximately 150 km south of Perth, Western Australia, near the the Port of Bunbury and close to one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium deposits, the Greenbushes mine.

The work will be supported by the DB Schenker Project Control Tower office, in Perth, in conjunction with the company’s global network of project offices specialised and accustomed to the unique logistics service requirements of the industry, it says.

“We have a proven track record of working safely and efficiently, even on the most remote sites and mega projects in the world,” Frank Vogel, VP Global Projects & Industry Solutions APAC, said.

The Kemerton plant initially consisted of three production trains, each producing 20,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide, with a potential expansion to five trains that will see production increase to 100,000 t/y by around 2025. The plant will be supplied with lithium concentrate produced at the nearby Greenbushes mine.

Metso Outotec pyro processing and comminution lines set for Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium plant

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Albemarle Lithium Pty Ltd has awarded Metso Outotec an order for two pyro processing and comminution lines for its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia, the OEM says.

Previously, Metso Outotec delivered two similar pyro process lines to the plant as part of another order.

Metso Outotec’s delivery consists of rotary calciner kilns and coolers, Premier™ ball mills, acid roast indirect rotary kilns and coolers for the pyro processing lines, as well as advisory services for installation and commissioning. Over 90% of the approximately €55 million ($58.6 million) order value is booked in Metso Outotec’s Metals fourth-quarter (December-quarter) orders received and the rest in its Minerals’ orders received.

Chris Urban, Vice President, Heat Transfer at Metso Outotec, said: “Albemarle is one of the largest lithium producers in the world. Commissioning and ramp up of the first two pyro lines delivered by us is currently taking place at the Kemerton plant in Western Australia, and we are delighted to now have received orders for two additional Metso Outotec pyro processing lines.”

The Kemerton plant initially consisted of three production trains, each producing 20,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide, with a potential expansion to five trains that will see production increase to 100,000 t/y by around 2025. The plant will be supplied with lithium concentrate produced at the nearby Greenbushes mine.

SCEE to work on Kemerton lithium hydroxide facility

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Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (SCEE) says it has been awarded the electrical and instrumentation (E&I) works contract at the new Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant near Bunbury, Western Australia.

The Kemerton processing plant, owned 60% by Albemarle Corp through the MARBL lithium joint venture, will initially comprise of two trains, each with a production capacity of 25,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide. Production is scheduled to commence in 2021.

The award for SCEE is to deliver the full E&I scope for both the hydromet and pyromet sections of the plant with an approximate value of A$65 million ($44.8 million).

Engineering company Monadelphous Group is delivering the pyromet structural, mechanical and piping package of work, as well as associated piping fabrication for the plant.

SCEE’s work is due to commence around the end of the March quarter of 2020 and is due for completion in May 2021.

SCEE Managing Director, Graeme Dunn, said: “I am extremely pleased to announce such a major award in the resources sector’s growing lithium industry.”

Kerman to work on another lithium project in Western Australia

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Kerman Contracting says it has been awarded a contract by Albemarle Lithium on the greenfield lithium hydroxide production plant in Kemerton, Western Australia.

The scope of this project comprises two separable portions – one includes the design and construction of the pyromet buildings, such as the spodumene storage building, the acidified ore handling building and the tailings building. The other separable portion includes the sodium sulphate packaging and storage warehouse, sodium sulphate pallet storage building, lithium hydroxide packaging and storage warehouse and lithium hydroxide pallet storage building as well as the boiler and air compressor buildings.

Recently Kerman has completed projects at Talison Lithium’s chemical grade plant in Greenbushes and the Tianqi lithium hydroxide processing plant in Kwinana, both in Western Australia

“We are excited about being part of yet another project in the lithium market,” said Kerman’s Managing Director Chris Kerman.

Back in August, engineering company Monadelphous Group was awarded a major construction contract at the project, which will initially consist of three production trains, each producing 20,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide, with a potential expansion to five trains that will see production increase to 100,000 t/y by around 2025. Production is expected to start production in 2021.

Albemarle on course for 2021 commissioning at Kemerton lithium hydroxide conversion site

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Albemarle has begun earthworks at the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area, in Western Australia, for the construction of the company’s Kemerton lithium hydroxide (LiOH) conversion site.

Albemarle recently received environmental approval from the federal and state government for the Kemerton plant and has followed this up with the groundbreaking.

Eric Norris, Albemarle President, Lithium, said: “The site earthworks at Kemerton today are on track with our projections. Achieving this milestone underscores our commitment and confidence in developing LiOH operations in Western Australia and in our overall strategy to drive significant shareholder value and meet our customers’ demands.”

The Kemerton plant is expected to have an initial capacity of 60,000 t/y of LiOH with an ability to expand to 100,000 t/y over time. The commissioning of the site is expected to start in stages during the course of 2021.