Covalent Lithium Refinery

Melchor was engaged to complete excavation, filling, buried services, formwork, reinforcement, and the placement of concrete foundations in the power generation area, including a diesel generator, three power generation foundations, and the battery storage facility.

Melchor installed over 2,000 precast piles, 10 kilometres of underground piping, approximately 50 kilometres of underground low-voltage and high-voltage communications cabling and earthing, and 25,000 cubic metres of concrete. Some of the piers in the processing plant exceed 16 metres in height and were poured in a single lift to maximise efficiency.

As part of the project, the Melchor civils team worked with Western Power to construct the new switchyard associated with the development.

Key highlights

During 2022, Melchor achieved the following on the refinery site:

• 45,000 bank cubic metres of excavation

• 30,000 compacted cubic metres of backfill

• 2,700 piles installed

• 200,000 square metres of basecourse pavements

• 46.3 kilometres of underground cabling and earthing

• 25,000 cubic metres of concrete placed

• 2,250 tonnes of reinforcing installed