Calix welcomes today’s announcement by Western Australian Premier Hon. Roger Cook MLA of the award of $15 million in grant funding for the Mid-stream Demonstration Plant Project developed in a Joint Venture with Pilbara Minerals.
The Project aims to construct and operate a demonstration-scale electric spodumene calciner at Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora lithium operation in the Pilbara region of WA. Electric calcination has the potential to decarbonise one of the most carbon-intensive processes in the battery materials supply chain and deliver a lithium-enriched mid-stream product that reduces the transport of waste, increases utilisation of the mineral resource, and helps unlock logistically challenging ore deposits.
In October 2024, Pilbara Minerals and Calix Limited announced construction works not currently under contract for the Project would be paused until lithium market conditions are supportive or further government support for project continuation could be secured.
The WA Government grant award for the Demonstration Plant Project has not yet been executed and remains subject to the agreement of terms and conditions between Pilbara Minerals and the WA Government. It is expected that, subject to grant execution, the additional funding support will enable the respective Pilbara Minerals and Calix Boards to consider a recommencement of the Project.
Calix welcomes the announcement of this award from the WA Government, which follows previous support from the Australian Government. It is pleasing to see both state and federal governments directly supporting the kind of innovation needed for Australia to seize the opportunity to capture and create more value from its mineral and renewable resources.
“Subject to execution of the grant agreement, this further government support enables the respective Pilbara Minerals and Calix Boards to consider a recommencement of the Project. We look forward to continuing to work with our partner Pilbara Minerals to quickly confirm next steps and ultimately demonstrate the potential of electrification to the global lithium industry.”
Calix CEO And Managing Director
This is a great demonstration of the WA Government’s commitment to supporting downstream onshore processing and innovation through supporting two Australian companies in a project which could meaningfully reduce carbon emissions of the global lithium industry.
“This funding boost goes a long way to supporting the delivery of the Mid-stream Demonstration Plant project and will enable the JV to consider recommencement of the project.
“We remain fully supportive of the mid-stream strategy and our joint venture, recognising the Project’s potential to transform the lithium supply chain through lower emissions and value-adding processing.”
Pilbara Minerals CEO And Managing Director
