Wildcat Resources is accelerating development of its Tabba Tabba lithium project in Western Australia’s Pilbara, targeting lower upfront costs, earlier plant expansion and stronger project economics ahead of a definitive feasibility study due later this year.

The company is advancing optimisation work aimed at bringing forward the Stage 2 process plant expansion to 4.5 million tonnes per annum while reducing pre-production mining strip requirements and capital expenditure at the project near Port Hedland.

Metallurgical testwork from material representing the first two years of planned operations produced a spodumene concentrate grading 5.65 per cent lithium oxide (Li₂O) with low iron content of 0.63 per cent iron oxide (Fe₂O₃). Wildcat will also incorporate tantalum processing at Tabba Tabba and petalite processing from the Chewy, Han and Hutt deposits into the DFS to improve economic returns.

“We are close to finalising the definitive feasibility study for the Tabba Tabba project,” Wilcat Resources project director James Dornan said. “Mine planning and metallurgical testwork is being progressed across the entire life of mine, with material from years 1–2 of open pit operations achieving a spodumene concentrate grade of 5.65 per cent Li₂O with low iron and excellent recoveries, providing confidence for the commissioning and ramp up phases of the project.”

Wildcat has also completed a review of the spodumene process plant design, selecting a two-stage crushing circuit in place of the three-stage crushing configuration outlined in the project’s 2025 pre-feasibility study.

The company said heritage and environmental surveys across the development area are largely complete, while geotechnical investigations over the proposed process plant, site access road and non-process infrastructure areas identified no material issues.

Environmental approval applications under the EP Act and EPBC Act are expected to be lodged shortly, with funding and offtake discussions also underway.

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