An integrated battery material facility is set to be built in Kwinana with the State Government approving IGO Limited's application for land in the Kwinana-Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area (SIA).
The Industrial Lands Panel has allocated about 30 hectares to IGO and its partners for the proposed facility that will commercially produce high-value nickel dominant precursor cathode active material (PCAM), a first for Australia.
PCAM is a form of advanced chemical manufacturing and is a key material used in lithium-ion batteries, which power cleans technologies such as electric vehicles.
The project has an estimated Capital Expenditure of between $600 million and $1 billion, and is expected to create up to 1200 construction jobs and about 250 operational jobs.
IGO, in conjunction with Wyloo Metals, is working towards making a financial investment decision, which remains subject to engaging a PCAM partner on the project, delivery of a feasibility study in the second half of 2024, environmental permitting and approvals, broad stakeholder engagement and achievement of commercial metrics.
"We know that the Kwinana-Rockingham SIA is prime real estate for advanced industries such as PCAM," State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook said.
"With the potential to be Australia's first commercial producer of PCAM, this integrated battery material facility is a perfect fit for the Kwinana-Rockingham SIA.
"As the global energy transition continues, the State Government is backing projects that will help us decarbonise and set up Western Australia's economy for future success."
IGO’s Acting CEO Matt Dusci said it is important they continue to expand their participation throughout the battery supply chain, beyond just the mining of key raw minerals.
“We are excited about securing this site at Kwinana – a pivotal step in our ambitions to be better integrated into the battery supply chain. We strongly believe that by bringing the right partners together, we will deliver a fully optimised nickel supply chain delivering low-cost, low-carbon, responsibly produced battery chemicals for the global battery and electric vehicle industry, to be delivered through an integrated battery material facility here in Western Australia.”
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