MinRes adds to global lithium production cuts amid downturn
The company will put its Bald Hill lithium mine in Western Australia under care and maintenance starting this week.
Australia revised upwards its resources and energy export earnings for the current financial year to hit a record A$459 billion ($308 billion) on Monday, as the war in Ukraine boosts prices of energy commodities.
The country is set to see strong growth in revenue from exports of thermal coal used in power plants as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the year ending June 2023, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources said in a quarterly report.
“Many Western nations are having to pay substantially more for energy, on the high chance that sanctions on Russia will see some Russian production — particularly gas and coal — become stranded from world markets,” it said.
The department had predicted an annual value of resources exports at A$450 billion, in its most recent September report. A weaker than expected Australian dollar exchange rate as well as high prices for thermal coal were the main factors behind the revision, it said.
Iron ore, which is still Australia’s most valuable commodity export, is seen at A$113 billion this financial year, lower than the year ended in June when it stood at A$133 billion.
Ongoing strength in thermal coal prices are expected to see the biggest annual revenue growth at 65%, taking export value of the fossil fuel to A$76 billion from A$46 billion.
The value of liquefied natural gas exports is expected to hit $A90 billion from A$71 billion last financial year.
However, amid slower growth in steel manufacturing, the value of metallurgical coal exports is expected to decline to $A57 billion from A$68 billion last year.
Revenue for lithium exports is expected to jump to A$16 billion from A$5 billion a year earlier, as demand for the mineral used in batteries heats up.
($1 = 1.4896 Australian dollars)
(By Melanie Burton; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
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