Talison Lithium Limited (TSX:TLH) announces the early commissioning of the Stage 1 expansion at the Greenbushes Lithium Operations and an update on the Stage 2 expansion.
Peter Robinson, Chairman, said "We are very pleased that commissioning of the Stage 1 expansion of production capacity at the Greenbushes Lithium Operations has commenced ahead of schedule, and that continued strong demand for Talison's chemical-grade lithium concentrate has necessitated a revision of the design of the Stage 2 expansion".
Expansion of the Greenbushes Lithium Operations
Commissioning of the Stage 1 expansion of the chemical-grade plant at the Greenbushes Lithium Operations has commenced ahead of schedule, and production is already at the increased design capacity (an increase of approximately 7,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent).
Talison is also continuing to plan the Stage 2 expansion of the chemical-grade plant and in response to continued strong demand for lithium concentrate, the original design of the expansion (that planned to increase total production capacity of the Greenbushes Lithium Operations to approximately 62,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent), is being revised to allow for further increases in production capacity.
To ensure that revision of the design allows Talison to proceed with the Stage 2 expansion in calendar 2011 as originally planned, Board approval has been received to commence ordering long lead time items for the expansion.
Solactive Global Lithium Index
Following its listing on the TSX in September, Talison has recently been included in the Solactive Global Lithium Index. This Index is used by Global X Lithium, the world's first lithium based Exchange Traded Fund, to track performance of the largest and most liquid lithium mining, refining and battery producing companies in the world.