Latrobe Magnesium Ltd drawing closer to kick off at its Stage 1 Demonstration Plant in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, having made progress across operational, regulatory and workforce fronts.
No outstanding requirements
The company has wrapped up all necessary documentation for the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and says it is now at a stage where there are no outstanding requirements before ore commissioning can begin.
Final documents, including the Environmental Management Plan and Financial Assurance, were lodged in April and May, and LMG is now awaiting EPA confirmation to proceed.
A key focus has been finalising labour arrangements, with negotiations with unions and contractors progressing constructively, LMG says.
The site Enterprise Agreement has been drafted and is under review by the Mining and Energy Union.
LMG is keen to reset wage expectations in the region to reflect the economics of the resources sector, distinct from the higher wages of the local power industry.
The company has also engaged actively with the local workforce, participating in the recent Middle of Everywhere Jobs Fair in Sale, which drew more than 550 attendees.
Strong regional interest
LMG received strong interest and plans further outreach at Gippsland career expos and forums.
In parallel, preparations are underway to reinstate full site operations.
The ash stockpile, sourced under a renewed agreement with Energy Australia, is now ready for processing, with mining contractor RTL set to begin reclaim works.
Pre-commissioning checks have commenced, with equipment being reactivated and process lines prepared.
LMG has also reinstated key site management personnel, and operational procedures are being finalised in collaboration with safety teams.
Reagent inventories have been confirmed as sufficient, with supply chains in place to support ongoing commissioning and ramp-up.
Vendor mobilisation is also underway, with commissioning teams from Tenova and Rockwell Automation preparing to return to site.
Mobile equipment required for safe operations and maintenance has been scheduled for delivery.
Chief Executive Officer David Paterson said the company looked forward to starting operations shortly, with further updates to follow as the final steps toward commissioning are completed.
The demonstration plant marks a key step in LMG’s long-term strategy to commercialise its patented magnesium extraction process, converting waste ash into magnesium metal and cementitious material. The company also plans to construct a 10,000 tonnes per annum commercial plant in Victoria by late 2027, and a 100,000 tonnes per annum international facility in Sarawak, Malaysia.