Lithium Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant Marks Major Milestone for Calix Technology
Opening a New Chapter for Electric Processing
The official opening of the Lithium Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant at PLS’ Pilgangoora Operation in Western Australia marked a significant milestone for Calix’s electric calcination technology and its potential to transform processing across multiple industries.
Calix joined project partner PLS, Traditional Owners and representatives from governments and industry to celebrate the milestone, with Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Chair Justin Punch and PLS Managing Director and CEO Dale Henderson attending the event.
The ceremony included a welcome to Country, speeches, ribbon-cutting, site tour and media briefing, highlighting the importance of the project for Australia’s critical minerals sector and the broader industrial transition.
The Mid-Stream plant is demonstrating electric calcination technology for spodumene processing, with the potential to significantly reduce emissions associated with lithium production and add value to mineral exports.
Strong Support from Government and Industry
In his address, Premier Cook described the opening as “a very important day, not only in the life of PLS, but in the life of the Pilbara” region.
Premier Cook continued, highlighting the significance of the project for Western Australia. “This project and its electric kiln technology has the potential to be at the cutting edge of the clean energy transition, by reducing carbon emissions by more than 90%.”
Premier Cook added, “The technology that we’re deploying here can be carried across to different commodities.“
ARENA Chair Justin Punch echoed that sentiment, describing the project as exactly the type of initiative that ARENA seeks to support.
“Calix is a technology we’re very excited about. This is technology with application across not just lithium processing but a whole range of other minerals and metals. Very significantly for Australia, it has application in low emissions iron making, and also in cement, which is another major source of global emissions. This is the kind of world leading technology, Australian technology, that could really help us solve these hardest problems” Mr Punch said.
Beyond Lithium
The strong support expressed by both the Western Australian Government and ARENA reflects growing recognition of the role Calix’s technology can play in strengthening industrial competitiveness while supporting lower-emissions production.
The project represents more than a demonstration of electrified lithium processing. It showcases a platform technology with applications across iron and steel, cement and lime, alumina and other industrial sectors.
As industries around the world seek to add value to, and reduce emissions from, more future-proof operations, technologies that can be deployed to deliver multiple economic and environmental benefits will play an increasingly important role.
Calix thanks PLS, ARENA, the Western Australian Government and all project partners for their continued support as the project progresses into commissioning and operational validation.
