Core Lithium has prepared its first shipment of spodumene concentrate for shipment to China ahead of schedule.
Core Lithium’s maiden 3500-tonne parcel of spodumene concentrate has been successfully trucked to the Finniss Lithium project located in Darwin port and is prepared for shipment to Yahua, a Chinese company that deploys lithium concentrate resources.
The first shipment was initially estimated to be ready by the end of April, but Core Lithium is ahead of schedule and has its second spodumene concentrate shipment to Yahua worth 15,000 tonnes already underway.
Both shipments to Yahua have been sold on a free on-board basis and are linked to the Fastmarkets price.
Core Lithium would receive 90 per cent payment for the first parcel and 80 per cent payment for the second parcel in April.
Core Lithium fully own the Finniss lithium project, which is positioned in one of the most prospective lithium areas in the Northern Territory.
Core Lithium chief executive officer Gareth Manderson described the first concentrate parcel being ahead of the production schedule as a significant milestone.
“I would like to commend the Core Lithium team for the work they have done to safely start operations and produce concentrate during this wet season,” Manderson said.
“The pit is now dewatered and full mining operations have recommenced. The mining fleet is back in the pit, the crusher and DMS (dense media separation) plant are operational, and we have commenced production of the 15,000-tonne parcel of concentrate as a part of the safe and steady ramp-up of production.
“Core’s focus is to now establish the foundations of sustained growth for the company, including the regular delivery of high-quality, reliable volumes of lithium concentrate that is currently in high demand.”