Latrobe Magnesium (LMG) focuses on environmental sustainability and circular economy, with its proprietary processes converting nearly 100% of waste resources into Magnesium and other valuable commodities. We are currently developing a demonstration plant at our Hazelwood North site with the first magnesium production due in the first half of 2023. Once this project is successful, we will develop a full-scale commercial 10,000+ tonne per annum (tpa) plant in the Latrobe Valley as a world-first, low cost, low-emission, and environmentally sustainable solution for producing Magnesium.
The Project & How It Works
The magnesium production plant will use a world-first patented extraction process of combined hydrometallurgical extraction / thermal reduction. The plant will recover magnesium metal from ash ‒ a waste resource from coal power generation plants, operating since 1924.
Over the last 100 years, Victorian coal plants have processed an estimated 3 billion tonnes of coal, equating to a significant stockpile of ash, causing harm to the environment. This is where our mission comes into play. LMG’s site in the centre of the coal power generation precinct in Latrobe Valley, allows us direct access to ash resources, a skilled workforce and key energy and transport infrastructure.
Demand for magnesium worldwide is growing, set to double over the next 5 to 7 years. Magnesium has a very high strength-to-weight ratio and is increasingly used within the automotive and aerospace industries for light weighting. This reduction in weight provides improved fuel efficiencies, reduces CO2 emissions, improves handling characteristics, and increases strength. Magnesium is also used in the manufacturing of laptop computers, mobile phones, power tools and is an emerging battery metal.
LMG’s initial development pathway consists of three stages:
Stage 1 – The design and construction of a limited lifespan 1,000 tpa demonstration plant built to refine and prove the process. This stage is currently underway, with commissioning beginning first half of 2023.
Stage 2 – The design and construction of a 10,000 – 40,000 tpa plant, which can provide full production capability for producing magnesium at a commercial scale. The current development timing for the plant is 1-2 years, with a designed lifespan of 30 years.
Stage 3 – A 100,000 tpa mega scale plant at an international location processing ferronickel slag feedstock. LMG has awarded global experts Bechtel, the delivery of a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) to select the best business case for the project.
Our projects are at the forefront of environmental benefit. We recycle a power plant waste resource, reclaiming legacy stockpiled waste and producing 50% lower CO2 emissions than the industry average.
Latrobe Magnesium – Smart, Efficient and Green.
