[ferro-alloys.com]The Kidman Resources joint venture with Chile’s SQM, now named Covalent Lithium, expects to go ahead with its $US601 million ($845 million) Mount Holland lithium mine and concentrator and Kwinana refinery in the first half of next year.

Kidman announced the $US601 million cost estimate this morning after completion of a pre-feasibility study for the refinery and an update of a scoping study for the Mount Holland mine and concentrator.

Chief executive Martin Donohue said the two studies marked an important milestone towards a long-life, vertically-integrated lithium mine-to refinery operation in WA.

“Covalent Lithium will be a producer of premium refined battery-grade lithium, which will be a competitive advantage for Kidman’s marketing activities both now and into the future,” he said.

The project is predicted to produce more than 45,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide for $US4,487 a tonne, excluding royalties and contingencies.

• [Editor:王可]