Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) has achieved additional production milestones at the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia, delivering the first ore mined and spodumene concentrate to port.
Both of these milestones follow achieving the first production through the entire Kathleen Valley value chain.
Liontown, which has a market capitalisation of $2.1 billion, says the first ore from the underground at Mt Mann was extracted in the first week of August 2024. The company adds this represents another milestone delivered to schedule.
Since starting underground operations in November 2023, more than 4,000m have been advanced. Tier one contractor Byrnecut has been pivotal in driving progress, productivity, and efficiency.
Liontown expects the first production of ore from the stoping cycle by the end of this calendar year.
Meanwhile, the company also celebrated the load and dispatch of 145 tonnes of spodumene concentrate by truck from Kathleen Valley to the Port of Geraldton.
Liontown says concentrate will be stockpiled at Qube’s storage shed for the company’s product at the Port of Geraldton, ahead of first shipment, which is planned for this quarter. The haulage and storage of the spodumene concentrate is being managed by tier one contractor Qube.
CEO Tony Ottaviano says the rapid progress underscores the momentum Liontown is building as it transitions from construction to production.
“Just a week after achieving first production, the first truckload of spodumene concentrate has been successfully dispatched to Geraldton Port,” Ottaviano says.
“Additionally, hitting our first development ore milestone at Mt Mann demonstrates our continued operational success, and strengthens our position as a leading emerging global supplier of battery minerals.”
Liontown Resources is attending and presenting at the 2024 Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum today, which is held in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Mining.com.au is also in attendance.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Liontown Resources
