Battery & critical metals site tours (Collie and Kemerton) & Process tech talk: Characterising optimal flotation performance

Join the South West WA Branch & Metallurgical Society for their Battery & critical metals site tours (Collie and Kemerton) & Process tech talk: Characterising optimal flotation performance in July.

About this event

Our July process plant site tours and technical presentations will cover many aspects of the inputs and value adding processes for the battery & critical minerals industries and will focus on relatively new projects & developments impacting Australia’s resource sector. 

We will look at projects that take local mineral products and the processes and sites to upgrade these to direct inputs into critical materials’ industries.

We will also learn about sustainable environmental management practices.

International Graphite Processing Facilities Tour, Collie WA

The day will begin with a look at the first Australian production site of battery anode graphite, from local minesite mineral production, through separation and upgrade to commercial production of fully purified and coated battery anode material. We will examine the process from IG’s Graphite ore from their Hopetoun WA mine, concentrating, micronising, spheroidising circuits, culminating with an inspection of the furnace facility and final production of the purified graphite product. This is the largest and most advanced facility of its kind known to be operating in Australia.

Lunch at Lake Kepwari Reserve, Cardiff WA

The lake is a former open-cut coal mine formerly known as Western Five, part of a mining lease operated by Wesfarmers Premier Coal from 1970 until 1996. It is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) wide and up to 70 metres (230 ft) deep. It covers 103 hectares (250 acres) and holds about 30 gigalitres (1.1×109 cu ft) of water.

Since 2003, rehabilitation work on the site has been undertaken to develop it as a community aquatic recreation facility. It has taken about five years to fill with water from Collie River South. In 2008, the state government allocated A$3.29 million for the recreational development of the site.

The site represents a good example of post-mining land use, and builds on sustainable mining and process best practice.

Albemarle Lithium Hydroxide Processing Facilities, Kemerton WA

Albemarle's Kemerton lithium plant, located near Bunbury in Western Australia, is the largest lithium hydroxide processing facility in Australia. It produces technical and battery-grade lithium hydroxide for use in energy storage and other industrial applications. 

Additionally, Kemerton produces Sodium Sulphate Anhydrous (SSA) and Delithiated Beta Spodumene (DBS).The plant processes spodumene ore concentrate supplied from its 49% local owned Greenbushes mine operated by Talison Lithium. 

Albemarle’s innovative technologies and practices minimise our environmental footprint and ensure a sustainable supply of critical minerals for the future while minimizing our environmental impact today.

Our visit to the Kemerton process plant will see us learn about the value chain from raw spodumene concentrate through to battery-grade and other chemical products.

Technical Presentation by Dr. George Wren at Mercure Sanctuary Resort, Bunbury WA from 5:30pm

Dr. George Wren will present a paper discussing the value of good technical testwork to ensure that process plant design and commissioning leads to better and more cost effective outcomes and delivers a better bottom line.

George’s presentation, “Characterising optimal flotation performance” uses case studies to demonstrate the value of good experimental results to drive decision making.

Networking Opportunities

The day will provide an endless opportunity for interactions with industry and operational site personnel, and the evening tech talk will open the networking to a larger audience.

PD hours:
Tours and tech talk: 5 hours
Tech talk only: 1 hour

Please note: There are only 24 places available for the site tours.

Speaker/s

Dr George Wren

MAusIMM(CP)

Senior Development Metallurgist, Talison Lithium
PhD Chem/Met Engineering

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Dr. George Wren is a Senior Development Metallurgist at Talison Lithium where he provides technical support to the Project Development and Operational Teams. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering and worked in operational and project roles for various commodities including lithium, mineral sands, rare earths, nickel, gold and copper.

Highlights include providing technical support to the Talison team, contributing to technical development of oxide flotation systems at Iluka, and supporting the operational team at Newmont Boddington Gold Mine to troubleshoot production issues and improve plant performance.
Outside of work, George enjoys spending time with his family, fitting in trips to the beach, river and forests near their home in Karridale, South West, Western Australia.

George has held various voluntary roles including being an active member of AusIMM COIs and past Vice-Chair of the AusIMM South West WA Branch.