SHANGHAI, Jun 3 (SMM) – Ganfeng Lithium, a top lithium producer in China, has said it is stepping up efforts to construct a lithium hydroxide expansion project, with an annualised capacity of 50,000 mt, to catch up with the schedule delayed by the coronavirus outbreak. The project is slated to come online in Q4 this year.

The company’s Caucharí-Olaroz lithium brine project in Argentina has restarted construction, but commissioning of the project is expected to be postponed to 2021 due to uncertainties around the pandemic overseas. 

Ganfeng Lithium said spodumene concentrate production in Western Australia this year could be significantly lower than expectations as most miners in Australia have plans to cut output or halt production. But this will not affect the company’s spodumene concentrate supply given its ongoing long-term contracts with RIM, Pilbara and Altura.