[ferro-alloys.com]Pilbara Minerals has committed to a $231 million expansion of its Pilgangoora lithium and tantalum project a month after its first spodumene shipment left Port Hedland.

In a statement to the market this morning Pilbara Minerals said its board had approved the expansion from 2 million tonnes per annum to 5mtpa subject to regulatory approvals and securing the balance of project funding.

Pilbara Minerals said it was investigating a number of funding alternatives including debt and offtake prepayment from customers.

All the offtake from stage two has been placed with customers, and Pilbara Minerals has ordered long-lead items to meet its target of commissioning the expansion in the December quarter of 2019.

Managing director Ken Brinsden said the rapid build and ramp-up of stage one had attracted customers.

“Against a backdrop of significant demand growth for lithium raw materials over the coming decade, the quality and scale of the resource at our Pilgangoora project demands further expansion,” he said.

In August, Pilbara Minerals released a definitive feasibility study that estimated stage two would cost $231 million.

Pilbara’s shares were up 1.2 per cent, or 1¢, to 84.5¢ at 11.40am.

（The West Australian）

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