Covalent Lithium is introducing its first production batch of battery-grade lithium hydroxide at the Kwinana refinery in Western Australia. This breakthrough was achieved in July 2025, following completion of internal validation testing, an important stage in the supply of critical materials for the global electric vehicle and energy storage battery industry.
Battery grade lithium hydroxide production
The plant is located in Western Australia, with integrated operations ranging from mining and extraction of the ore to final refining. This initial stage of production confirms compliance with design specifications and sets the stage for a projected nameplate capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum over the next 18 months.
According to the company’s CEO, Ross Martelli, the result is the fruit of years of work between technical teams, industrial partners and investors. Martelli mentioned that the construction and start-up of the plant were completed according to the budget established at the beginning of 2023.
For now, the company is focused on preparing commercial samples for the product qualification stage, with a view to strengthening its position in the global battery materials market. This achievement has direct implications for strengthening the Australian supply chain for critical minerals.
The Kwinana refinery is also aligned with the goals of the“Future Made in Australia” initiative and Western Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy, which seek to position the country as a strategic supplier in the transition to cleaner energy. At full production, it is estimated that it will be able to supply materials to manufacture batteries for up to one million electric vehicles per year.
