Liontown intends to reach full nameplate production at the project by the end of the first quarter (Q1) of calendar year 2025. Credit: Creaturart Images/Shutterstock.

Liontown Resources has commenced lithium production at its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project located 680km north-east of Perth in Western Australia (WA).

The first spodumene concentrate has been produced following the progressive commissioning of the processing plant.

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The company has processed ore through the entire crushing, milling and flotation circuit at Kathleen Valley.

With a stockpile of 216,000 tonnes of clean ore already mined from the Kathleen’s Corner and Mt Mann open pits, Liontown is prepared for continuous production, the company said.

The primary ore zone in Kathleen’s Corner is set to be mined starting in late August 2024, further bolstering the company’s clean ore reserves for processing.

Liontown’s next steps include completing the remaining commissioning activities and constructing critical underground infrastructure such as the Paste Fill plant.

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The company aims to ramp up the process plant to a throughput of 3mtpa.

Liontown anticipates reaching full nameplate production by the end of Q1 in calendar year 2025. Lithium recoveries are expected to be optimised over the next 12–18 months.

Liontown managing director and CEO Tony Ottaviano said: “This is a monumental moment for Liontown and marks our transition from a construction project to a producer of high-quality lithium concentrate.

“We will commence delivery of spodumene concentrate to our customers in the coming weeks. First production signals the start of our ramp-up towards 3mtpa capacity and, in partnership with our tier-1 offtake customers, paves the way for us to pursue our long-term strategy to be a globally significant supplier of battery minerals as the world transitions to a low-carbon future.”

Last year, Liontown awarded an A$1bn ($644m) contract to Byrnecut Australia to undertake underground mining services at the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project.

The four-year contract tasked Byrnecut with offering a complete suite of mining services for underground operations.