IGO Secures land in Kwinana for Battery Materials Facility

IGO announced today that it has secured land in Kwinana from the Western Australian Government for its proposed Integrated Battery Material Facility. This marks an important milestone in delivering IGO’s strategy to be vertically integrated into the battery supply chain. In conjunction with Wyloo Metals (Wyloo), IGO is working towards making a financial investment decision on the development of the Project, which involves integrating a downstream nickel refinery with a plant producing high-value nickel dominant precursor cathode active material (PCAM) for the battery supply chain. The proposed Project would combine IGO’s disruptive nickel refining technology with PCAM production expertise via a low-cost and low-carbon process. The Project would represent the first commercial production of PCAM in Australia and align with the State Government’s drive to grow Western Australia’s future battery industry.  

The proposed IBM Facility would be constructed in the Kwinana-Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area on approximately 30 hectares of vacant industrial land leased from the State Government. The land secured for the proposed IBM Facility is adjacent to the Kwinana Lithium Hydroxide Refinery, owned by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA), a joint venture between IGO and Tianqi Lithium Corporation.   Key workstreams required before a Final Investment Decision can be made include engaging a partner with experience in PCAM production, delivery of a Feasibility Study in mid-2024, environmental permitting and approvals, broad stakeholder engagement and the achievement of key commercial outcomes. IGO and Wyloo are currently advancing discussions with a global battery chemical manufacturer, which has indicated strong interest in partnering in the Project. This is essential in integrating the parties’ technologies with IGO’s critical minerals to capture value across the supply chain. 

IGO’s Acting CEO, Matt Dusci said; “Australia is already playing an important role in the global supply of critical minerals required as the world transitions to clean energy. We need to continue to expand our participation throughout the battery supply chain, beyond just the mining of key raw minerals, in order to capture a greater share of the value. We believe the area where Australia can be most competitive is in midstream battery chemical processing."

“We are excited about securing this site at Kwinana – a pivotal step in our ambitions to be better integrated into the battery supply chain.  We strongly believe that by bringing the right partners together, we will deliver a  fully optimised nickel supply chain delivering low-cost, low-carbon, responsibly produced battery chemicals for the global battery and electric vehicle industry, to be delivered through an integrated battery material facility here in Western Australia.” 

“The Kwinana-Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area is rapidly emerging as a globally significant battery material hub with existing lithium hydroxide production, established infrastructure and a skilled residential workforce. I would like to acknowledge the support of the Western Australian State Government as we work together with a combined ambition of continued growth of the local battery chemical industry.”