In a bold move that could reshape the lithium mining landscape, Pilbara Minerals has successfully commissioned the world’s largest lithium ore sorting plant at its Pilangoora Operation in Western Australia. This state-of-the-art facility, powered by TOMRA Mining’s advanced sensor-based sorting technology, is not just a feather in the cap for Pilbara; it’s a game changer for hard-rock lithium processing. By enhancing lithium recovery and upping the final product quality, this plant also takes a significant step towards sustainability by slashing energy consumption through early waste elimination.
The commissioning of this facility is a key component of Pilbara Minerals’ ambitious P680 Expansion Project. The meticulous design and installation of the crushing and ore-sorting plant were delivered right on schedule, a feat that speaks volumes about the collaborative spirit among the teams involved. It wasn’t just Pilbara Minerals that made this happen; the project thrived on the effective coordination among TOMRA Mining, international manufacturing partners, and various contractors on-site. Gavin Rech, Area Sales and Technical Manager Australia at TOMRA Mining, highlighted this collaborative approach, saying, “The success of this project is a testament to TOMRA Mining’s collaborative approach and capacity to deliver innovative, large-scale, high-capacity sorting solutions tailored to the unique demands of our clients.”
One of the industry’s longstanding hurdles has been managing spodumene ore amidst barren host rock. Traditional metallurgical methods often stumble when confronted with non-lithium-bearing materials that share similar densities with lithium-rich spodumene. This is where TOMRA’s high-precision sensor-based sorting technology steps in. With ten sorters in play—comprising four TOMRA XRT COM TER for fines, three TOMRA XRT COM2.0 for mid-sized particles, and three TOMRA PRO Primary Color for coarse-sized particles—the plant boasts an impressive sorting capacity of 1,000 tons per hour (tph).
The implications of this are profound. By removing barren material upstream, the facility streamlines downstream processes, which in turn reduces energy consumption by an estimated 8 to 15 GWh annually. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures a consistent product quality that the market demands. Rech elaborated on this, stating, “The ore sorters enable a better utilisation of the resource as they remove contamination from the ore upstream. This means that the wet plant does not use energy, water, and reagents to process barren ore, and that the contamination doesn’t reduce the efficiencies and recovery of the downstream plant.”
As the world increasingly pivots toward sustainable practices, this development in lithium processing could serve as a blueprint for future mining operations. The successful integration of cutting-edge technology with traditional mining practices could inspire other players in the sector to rethink their strategies. The message is clear: efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration are not just buzzwords; they are the future of mining. The industry stands at a crossroads, and Pilbara Minerals is leading the charge with their latest venture. This plant isn’t just about lithium; it’s about setting a new standard for how we approach resource extraction in a world that demands more from its industries.
