The South West region has lost out on a potential $400 million lithium plant, despite raw materials being mined in Greenbushes.
Greenbushes lithium will be refined in Kwinana instead of one of the SW’s underused industrial parks.
It is believed the lithium plant would have created 500 construction jobs and 115 permanent positions, making the SW an integral international player in the production of cutting-edge lithium batteries.
Mick Murray, shadow minister for the South West, said it was “outrageous” that Greenbushes lithium would not be processed locally.
“The region had clear advantages over Kwinana, including its proximity to the lithium mine and Bunbury Port, excess power supply, and skilled local labour,” Murray said.
“This is a wasted opportunity which would have provided more than 600 new jobs for the South West.”
He said this was the latest example of the Liberal-National Government ignoring the lack of regional job opportunities for local workers and apprentices.
“The Greenbushes mine is only about 70km from Shotts Industrial Park and 100km from Kemerton so why on earth are we trucking the raw lithium more than 200km to Kwinana?”
Tianqi Lithium Australia spokesperson Phil Thick said the plant was being built by Tianqi Lithium Australia, a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium Corporation.
“It is a very exciting project that will provide substantial investment and employment opportunities in Western Australia, both in construction and permanent jobs when in production,” Thick said.
“It is one of the few projects in WA to add significant value to mined products before they are exported overseas. As such it has been supported by both sides of government in all discussions I have had.”
He said the decision to select the Kwinana site was an easy choice to make.
“It is in the middle of a fully integrated industrial area with direct access to large amounts of power and gas at our boundaries, large quantities of reagents from other companies potentially via pipeline and easy access to container export berth at Fremantle.”
It will provide job opportunities in the Kwinana-Rockingham areas where unemployment is at high levels.
The owners of Talison Lithium are currently investigating a major expansion of the mine which will create employment and significant capital expenditure in the SW area.
