Tianqi Lithium office opens at Kwinana plant site

More than 60 staff will be transferred to Tainqi Lithium’s new Kwinana-based offices after the premises officially opened its doors earlier this week.

The move to the purpose-built office located on-site at the plant marks a major milestone in Tianqi Lithium‘s Western Australian investment program.

Tianqi Lithium general manager Phil Thick welcomed guests and staff to the official office opening on Tuesday, December 18.

“Moving our staff and the administrative and corporate side of the business out to the plant site was something that we have always been committed to,” he said.

“Over the past couple of years Tianqi Lithium has invested heavily in Kwinana community partnerships and initiatives and moving our offices here is integral to being a genuine part of the local community.”

More than 100 additional permanent staff are also expected to be added to the site in the next year.

Construction of the first stage of the 48,000 tonne capacity plant is near completion with commissioning about to begin.

Stage 2 is also progressing well and commissioning will follow closely behind Stage 1. The Kwinana plant will be the first fully automated lithium chemical manufacturing facility outside of China.

Mr Thick said the two-stage plant construction cost about $700 million, creating 700 construction jobs and successfully meeting a target of more than 80 per cent local content.

He said Tianqi would continue recruitment for the plant over the next six to 12 months, with most recruits from Kwinana, Rockingham and surrounding areas.

Special guests at the office opening included Tianqi Lithium chairman Jiang Weiping and president Vivian Wu.