Lithium majors round on Western Australia as SQM makes hard rock foray

Simon Moores / @sdmoores

SQM SA’s evolution from a fertiliser chemicals company to a lithium focused group has taken a major step forward after the Chilean brine producer agreed to invest $110m into Australian spodumene developer, Kidman Resources.

The world’s leading lithium brine producer has decided to make its first foray into hard rock production joining Talison Lithium’s dominant Greenbushes mine, Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin operation and Mineral Resources and Neometals’ Mt Marion project.

The deal will establish a 50:50 joint-venture (J-V) to build a spodumene operation at Kidman’s Earl Grey lithium . . .