Bald Hill increases lithium output in January

The Bald Hill lithium-tantalum mine in Western Australia achieved its highest monthly output of lithium concentrate in January and is on track to achieve production guidance for the first half of 2019.

Owned by Perth-based Alliance Mineral Assets, the mine produced 13,160t of lithium concentrate with an average grade of 6.15pc lithium oxide, 28pc higher than December's total. It processed 131,400t of ore, 30pc above nameplate capacity and 23pc higher than in December.

Export shipments on 2 and 3 February totalled 23,232 wet metric tonnes (estimated at 22,978 dry metric tonnes) with revenue estimated at A$26mn ($18.7mn). An additional 30,000t of lithium concentrate is expected to be shipped to China during the March quarter.

Bald Hill, which started lithium and tantalum production in the second quarter of 2018, also shipped 20t of high grade tantalum grading 30pc tantalite oxide in January and is expected to ship another 20t tomorrow.

Lithium concentrate output guidance for the first half of 2019 has been maintained at 65,000-80,000t.

Alliance Mineral Assets is reviewing requests for lithium concentrate supply, its chief executive Mark Calderwood said, adding that interest in long term offtake agreements "remains strong."