According to Mining News Pro -Altura Mining’s maiden cargo of spodumene concentrate from its lithium project at Pilgangoora in the Pilbara has departed Port Hedland.

The vessel, MV Clipper Tenacious, was loaded with around 5000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate and is headed for Altura’s offtake partner Lionenergy in China.

Altura will now focus on ramping up production at the project to the nameplate annual capacity of 220,000 tonnes with regular shipments.

It has made arrangements for the next shipment to occur later this month.

Altura managing director James Brown said the first shipment marked the start of the next stage of the company’s history.

“We are now producing and exporting lithium concentrate that will become part of the lithium-ion battery revolution,” Brown said.

“A little bit of the Pilbara will now be found in the car, mobile phones and static storage batteries of the future.”

Altura has completed a definitive feasibility study on a stage two expansion of its project to double output and plans to make a final investment decision later this year.