Altura loads first lithium shipment to China

Australia-based lithium developer Altura Mining has loaded its first lithium concentrate shipment to China from West Australia's (WA) Port Hedland.

The 5,000t shipment, which is above the 6pc lithium oxide specification, will be delivered to offtake partner Lionergy. A second shipment is scheduled for the second half of October.

Altura has received offtake enquiries from other downstream lithium converters in northeast Asia for output from its Altura project in WA's Pilgangoora region.

The company is now focused on ramping up the first stage of Altura to its 220,000 t/yr nameplate capacity, said managing director James Brown.

A definitive feasibility study has been completed on developing a second stage to increase output to 440,000 t/yr with an investment decision due by the end of this year.

Altura's maiden lithium concentrate shipment comes just a week after Pilbara Minerals announced its first shipment of lithium concentrate to China from its Pilgangoora project.