Liontown Kicks Off Lithium Ore Production at Kathleen Valley

Liontown Resources Limited (ASX:LTR) has achieved a significant milestone with the production of its first spodumene concentrate at the Kathleen Valley project, reinforcing the company's status as a burgeoning supplier of high-purity, IRA-compliant lithium feedstock. This development positions Liontown as a key player in the burgeoning global lithium market, catering to the growing demand for battery-grade materials essential for the energy transition.

Subsequent to the phased commencement of process plant operations, ore has undergone a complete processing cycle encompassing crushing, milling, and flotation stages, culminating in the generation of the inaugural concentrate product. To date, 216,000 tonnes of clean ore have been mined from the Kathleen’s Corner and Mt Mann open pits. With the primary ore zone at Kathleen’s Corner scheduled to be mined starting in late August, Liontown is well-positioned with a substantial stockpile of clean ore ready for processing, ensuring a steady supply for continued operations.

Liontown has successfully met another critical project milestone, underscoring its ability to execute projects on schedule. This achievement signals the commencement of production ramp-up, targeting a nameplate capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum by the end of Q1 2025. Liontown's fourth-generation process plant, utilizing a 100% whole ore flotation flowsheet tailored to the orebody characteristics, was constructed in 18 months, recording a total of four million work hours. Designed and constructed to the highest quality with Tier-1 equipment, engineers, and contractors, the plant promises future cost competitiveness through enhanced reliability and maintainability. The first shipment of spodumene concentrate is planned for later this quarter, Q3 CY2024.

Liontown’s Managing Director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, proudly announced the company’s achievement of its ambitious goal to commence first production by mid-2024, just two and a half years after setting this target. This milestone marks Liontown’s successful transition from a construction project to a producer of high-quality lithium concentrate. Ottaviano attributed this success to the resilience and dedication of the entire team, which enabled the rapid construction and commissioning of a world-class lithium operation. With first production underway, Liontown will soon deliver spodumene concentrate to customers, ramping up towards a 3Mtpa capacity. This achievement paves the way for Liontown to become a globally significant supplier of battery minerals, supporting the world’s transition to a low-carbon future.