The Kwinana Cobalt Refinery will be established within IWA’s existing mineral processing facility at East Rockingham, near the Kwinana Bulk Terminal operated by Doral Fused Materials. The site, which currently produces fused zirconia, now operates under a modified licence permitting the construction and operation of a refinery to produce cobalt sulphate for batteries, cobalt metal for defence and superalloys, and nickel metal.
Throughout the year, significant progress has been made with the engineering and flowsheet optimisation works at the Broken Hill Technology Centre (See Broken Hill Technology Centre Update).
The Works Approval marks a significant milestone in progressing the project toward a final investment decision. At a time of strong global demand for critical minerals and new midstream refining capacity, this achievement brings the refinery one step closer to reality.