Galaxy Officially Opens Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant
Sydney, Mar 8, 2012 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Galaxy Resources Limited (
ASX:GXY) (Galaxy) is pleased to announce the official opening of its wholly-owned Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant (Jiangsu Plant or Jiangsu), situated in the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone in China's Jiangsu province.
An opening ceremony at Jiangsu was attended by 400 delegates and included Australia's Consul General in Shanghai Alice Cawte, the Zhangjiagang FTZ Administrative Committee, substantial shareholders Creat Group and Fengli Group, as well as key off take customers. The A$100 million Jiangsu Plant is the largest-capacity battery grade lithium carbonate plant in the Asia Pacific region. It has a design capacity of 17,000 tonnes per annum and is one of the most technologically advanced plants of its kind in the world.
The Jiangsu Plant is in the final stages of commissioning and is expected to achieve first production by the end of the current quarter. The lithium concentrate produced at Galaxy's wholly-owned Mt Cattlin mine in Western Australia will be used as the feedstock for lithium carbonate production at Jiangsu. Lithium carbonate is a key ingredient in the manufactureof lithium-ion batteries. The Jiangsu Plant has the capability to produce the highest-purity grades of lithium carbonate desired by the lithium-ion battery manufacturing sector. Galaxy has long term offtake framework agreements signed with 13 major cathode producers in China and Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan (5,000 tpa) for 100% of Jiangsu's capacity.
Addressing the opening, Galaxy Chairman Craig Readhead said the commissioning of the Jiangsu Plant marked an important step in Galaxy becoming an integrated lithium resource, chemical and battery company.
"Galaxy's plan has always been to add value to its business by creating downstream opportunities. In late 2010, Galaxy began construction of a lithium carbonate plant in China, which would use the lithium concentrate from Mt Cattlin and process it further to produce high grade lithium carbonate for the lithium-ion battery sector.
"Today Galaxy is one step further to achieving its goal of being involved with every step of the lithium supply chain, from mining to manufacture of lithium products," Mr Readhead said.
Galaxy Managing Director Iggy Tan said he was particularly proud of Jiangsu's exemplary safety record. "Galaxy staff and contractors spent 2 million man hours constructing and commissioning Galaxy's Jiangsu Plant. What I'm most proud of is that this was achieved without a single Lost Time Injury.
"Galaxy is the first Australian resource company operating in the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone and I'd like to thank the Board Oversight Committee, which has given full support to Galaxy during the construction and commissioning of the Jiangsu Plant," Mr Tan said.
"Our commissioning activities are progressing according to schedule and without any major defect issues being identified to date. We are confident hot commissioning will be completed in time for us to commence lithium carbonate production at Jiangsu by the end of the current quarter," Mr Tan added.
For video of the Jiangsu Plant and opening ceremony, click on this link:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4UNT65X3
About Galaxy Resources Limited
Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY) (OTCMKTS:GALXF) is an international S&P / ASX 200 Index company with lithium production facilities, hard rock mines and brine assets in Australia, Canada and Argentina. It wholly owns and operates the Mt Cattlin mine in Ravensthorpe Western Australia, which is currently producing spodumene and tantalum concentrate, and the James Bay lithium pegmatite project in Quebec, Canada.
Galaxy is advancing plans to develop the Sal de Vida lithium and potash brine project in Argentina situated in the lithium triangle (where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet), which is currently the source of 60% of global lithium production. Sal de Vida has excellent potential as a low cost brine-based lithium carbonate production facility.
Lithium compounds are used in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, and consumer electronics and are an essential cathode material for long life lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as mass energy storage systems. Galaxy is bullish about the global lithium demand outlook and is aiming to become a major producer of lithium products.
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