What we do
PROJECT
REPORTS
Resources
Monitor reports on mining projects in Australia.
Projects
such as • the $500-million Maxwell underground coal project near Muswellbrook in New South Wales, to produce mainly metallurgical coal, with construction to commence in early 2022 • Yangibana, a major rare-earths project in Western Australia, involving open-cut mining northeast of Carnarvon and processing at Onslow, on the coast • re-opening of the Honeymoon uranium mine in South Australia, with a final investment decision on the $100-million project to be made by mid-2022.
Our
reports are used by mining-service companies (suppliers, consultants,
contractors) to identify work opportunities and the key people involved in them.
See Samples and Order Form above.
DIRECTORIES
We also offer directories of companies in mining and related engineering sectors (e.g water).
Our most recent directory is that covering water authorities in New South Wales, launched on 6 December 2021.
Similar directories will be launched in the first quarter of 2022 on water authorities in Victoria and Queensland respectively.
CONSULTANCY WORK
For the past decade, we have provided tailored assistance to Australia and
overseas clients to expand their operations in the mining and other engineering sectors.
Groote
Eylandt (Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory), the site of one of the
world's largest manganese mines
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Project Notes
LITHIUM ON THE MOVE
November 2021
Australia produces 50% of the world’s mined lithium. With lithium prices having
increased four-fold in the past year, the project outlook is encouraging for
Australian companies, at home and overseas.
In
Australia, early construction is underway at two major lithium projects:
Mt Holland in Western Australia and Finnis near Darwin in the Northern
Territory.
In
addition, Pilbara Minerals is expanding capacity at its Pilgangoora lithium
mine in Western Australia
In
Africa, Australian company, AVZ Minerals, expects to commence construction
in mid-2022 at its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic
of Congo, “the largest and highest grade undeveloped hard-rock lithium
project in the world” in the view of the company.
Also in
Africa, Australian company, Firefinch, expects to commence construction in
mid-2022 at its Goulamina lithium project in Mali.
In South
America, Australian company, Orocobre, is a major player in lithium
in South America, with its operating Olaroz mine in Argentina and
plans for further developments in the region.
Lithium
production is based on hard-rock mining in Australia and many other countries
(in Chile, Argentina and China, it is based mainly on the extraction of brines at high
altitudes).
Hard-rock
mining and initial processing lead to a concentrate, which is typically sent
overseas for refining into higher-grade products (e.g lithium hydroxide,
suitable for lithium-ion batteries).
Refining is
dominated by China, the two leading companies being Ganfeng Lithium
and Tianqi Lithium.
However, Australia
is beginning to play a role in this field. A refinery in Perth, involving
Tianqi Lithium and the US company, Albermerle, was commissioned in August
this year.
The Mt
Holland project includes a similar refinery in Perth, with construction to
commence in early 2022.
And other
Australian lithium companies are looking at ways of processing concentrates
into high-grade lithium products.
At the same
time, Chinese companies are likely to continue playing an important part in
Australian lithium mining and refining, both as investors and offtake partners.
Greenbushes, Western Australia - the world's largest lithium mine
