Lithium Universe has submitted an application with North American hydropower supplier Hydro-Québec for up to 18 megawatts of green electricity to fuel its proposed Bécancour lithium refinery in Canada.
The application follows a study by Hatch Engineering to finalise the power requirements for construction, commissioning, start-up and a gradual ramp-up to full production of Train 1 of the refinery.
The train is expected to have a capacity of 16,000 tonnes per annum battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Bécancour selection
Last month, Lithium Universe selected the Bécancour Port as the most efficient location to import lithium-rich spodumene for the refinery project.
The refinery will rely on spodumene feed and may source the material from within Canada or external locations near to the Atlantic Ocean such as Brazil, Africa or Australia.
It is expected to consume 10,000t of spodumene every four weeks, with an annual transportation volume estimated at 140,000t.
Hydro-Québec is a prominent player in North America’s renewable energy circles, generating just over 99% of its power from water sources.
Strategic move
Lithium Universe chair Iggy Tan said the Hydro-Québec application marked a significant step in the development process for the lithium refinery.
“This is a strategic move to secure green electricity for our project,” he said.
“Our emphasis on early work streams underscores our determination to accelerate the development process.”
“We are committed to fast-tracking this project, ensuring the refinery becomes a reality in record time.”
Refinery location
Lithium Universe’s proposed refinery is located on Lot 22 of the Bécancour Waterfront Industrial Park in Québec.
Situated at the crossroads of hydro-electrical distribution networks, the park is believed to offer a stable and cost-effective source of alternative power for the region.
It is owned by the Québec government under the management of Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour and is operated by Québec Stevedoring.
It comprises five berths ranging from 150 metres to 292m in length and currently handles more than 3.5Mt of cargo per year to service over 100 million consumers within a 1000-kilometre radius.
