Australian lithium producer Pilbara Minerals (PM) has announced a 35% increase in estimates for its Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Pilbara, Western Australia.
PM— in which Chinese car marker Great Wall Motor Co took a 3.5% stake in 2017— said estimated reserves at the project now stand at more than 108 million tonnes. This supports plans for a 5Mt per annum expansion of the project, the company said.
PM owns 100% of the Pilgangoora mine, the estimated life span of which has been extended to 23 years at the proposed 5Mtpa operation.
Great Wall agreed an initial five-year off-take deal with Pilbara for 75,000 tonnes a year of spodumene concentrate from Pilgangoora.
