Arc Infrastructure welcomes today’s announcement from the State Government allocating $3.3m towards a detailed study of a rail based container supply chain, to determine the feasibility of shifting the transport of product from the Talison Lithium mine site from road to rail.
Minister for Regional Development Don Punch MLA announced the funding for the study at Talison Lithium’s Greenbushes mine site today.
Arc Infrastructure will now work with Talison Lithium and the South West Development Commission to progress a detailed assessment of a new rail-based supply chain. The study will focus on stakeholder engagement, engineering requirements for the upgrade and return to service of 82km of rail line, new intermodal loading and unloading infrastructure and any requirements or modifications at Bunbury Port.
Arc Infrastructure CEO Murray Cook welcomed the
State Government announcement.
"Arc has been working with Talison and the State Government for several years on this initiative and we are delighted to commence detailed studies.
“Arc looks forward to a successful outcome from the study and making a significant investment to upgrade the Greenbushes Rail Line to support Talison moving this important task from road to rail,” Mr Cook said.
Over the next four years, production of lithium mineral concentrate is expected to exceed two million tonnes per year from Talison’s Greenbushes Lithium mine. Arc is excited to support Talison shift this important task from road to rail, delivering significant community and environmental benefits, including reduced carbon emissions and less trucks and congestion on the South West Highway.
The study is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.
Media Contact
Rochelle Zaknich
Head of Stakeholder Engagement
M 0436 845 732
E rochelle.zaknich@arcinfra.com
Project background
Arc Infrastructure has been working with Talison Lithium and the South West Development Commission (SWDC) since 2018 on the feasibility of a rail based supply chain in the South West to support the transport of spodumene concentrate (lithium mineral).
A rail based supply chain requires infrastructure investments including loading facilities at the mine site and unloading facilities at Bunbury and Kwinana. This is in addition to the proposed investment by Arc Infrastructure into the 82km Greenbushes Rail Line.
The study will build on a previous high-level feasibility study that was completed in 2020. At that time, it was determined that the state of the lithium market did not warrant investment into a new supply chain.
The Greenbushes Rail Line has not been active since 2005.
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