Western Australia lithium producer PLS is looking to double down on high-tech ore sorting at its flagship Pilgangoora operation in the state’s north, placing an order for 22 new X-ray transmission (XRT) units from Norwegian manufacturer Tomra for its proposed A$1.2 billion P2000 expansion project.
PLS lauded the role of ore sorters post commissioning of its P1000 expansion in 2024, adding the world’s largest lithium ore sorting facility (with 10 sorting units) to process lower-grade ore that otherwise would have been treated as waste. The 1000 tonnes-per-hour sorting plant used sensor-based early waste rejection to remove barren material upstream and enhance downstream processing efficiency, cut energy use by 8–15GWh annually and improve product quality.
PLS is moving toward a final investment decision on P2000, which would increase Pilgangoora concentrate production to circa-two million tonnes per annum in 2029.
Tomra is supplying secondary and tertiary sorting units, as well as project management and specialist tooling, as part of $175 million of PLS early works spending.
Tomra senior vice-president and head of mining Albert du Preez said the existing sorting circuit had demonstrated the “reliability, availability and consistency” required for high-throughput operations at Pilgangoora. “P2000 represents the next stage in that journey,” he said.
