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Albemarle to Idle Australia Lithium Plant After Profit Miss
Albemarle cited high energy costs and lithium price volatility for the shutdown, putting about 250 jobs at risk while maintaining supply through other channels.
- Albemarle announced overnight that Train 1 at the Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant near Bunbury will be idled and placed into care and maintenance immediately, shutting onsite processing of spodumene from the nearby Greenbushes mine.
- Albemarle said recent lithium price improvements alone were not enough to offset operating‑cost pressures amid an extended period of "price volatility," and this decision follows sustained cost‑reduction efforts to improve financial flexibility while preserving optionality.
- About 275 workers face job losses after Train 2 was placed into care and Trains 3 and 4 were shelved, with each train about 25,000 tonnes capacity.
- WA cabinet minister John Carey called the news "disappointing" and Albemarle said Australian mining interests remain unaffected, with 2026 volumes met through other operations.
- Industry commentators said high energy costs in Australia make WA downstream processing ambitions uncompetitive versus China despite recent lithium hydroxide market rallies, highlighting challenges for Western hard-rock conversion operations.
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12 Articles
12 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
WA news LIVE: Hundreds of jobs to go as US lithium giant ‘idles’ Bunbury plant
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 33%
C 45%
R 22%
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