Kwinana lithium plant produces Australia's first battery-grade lithium hydroxide

A lithium plant in Kwinana has produced Australia's first battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

The lithium hydroxide produced at Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia's Kwinana plant will be exported overseas and used in the production of high energy density batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Tianqi's plant is one of the few battery-grade lithium hydroxide facilities outside of China.

The plant employs 200 staff, and is expected to reach commercial production in the coming months once product qualification is achieved, with a nameplate capacity of 24,000 tonnes.

More than 900 jobs were created during the construction of Train 1, with further local employment expected when construction of Train 2 recommences.

"Western Australia has been exporting the minerals needed to make batteries for decades and today's milestone demonstrates our ability to manufacture battery-grade materials locally for global exports,"  State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook said.

"It's great to see this burgeoning industry making Kwinana its home, further reinforcing the importance of the Industrial Area and the Western Trade Coast in positioning WA as a Global Advanced Industries Hub."