Galaxy identifies site for lithium-ion battery plant in China

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Emerging lithium-miner Galaxy Resources has provisionally chosen the site for its proposed lithium-ion battery project, in China.

The company signed a letter of intent with the Jiangsu Province Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone (JPZFTZ) for a 10-ha site, which director Iggy Tan said was an ideal location for plant – 7 km from its Jiangsu lithium carbonate project.

The proposed site was also in close proximity to some of the major Chinese electric bike manufacturers, which was critical to developing and maintaining close business relationships with potential end customers, added Tan.

“The site will have access to key utilities, including electricity supply, water supply, post and telecommunciation, drainage, road, steam and waste water sewerage to the land boundary and site leveling.”

Galaxy now had to take part in a public bidding process for the land use rights, as required under Chinese law, and Galaxy’s board has to approve the project.

The development of the lithium battery project remained at a preliminary stage, said Tan, and Galaxy has yet to take a decision on whether it would start construction of the project in the future, or at all.

Before the start of construction, the company would need to further evaluate the opportunity form a technical, financial and marketing perspective, secure supply agreements and consumer agreements, and obtain the necessary land use rights and approvals from the relevant parties.