Kwinana Lithium Refinery

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

As part of the works, Melchor installed more than 2,000 precast piles, 10 kilometres of underground piping, approximately 50 kilometres of underground low-voltage and high-voltage, communications cabling, and earthing systems, as well as 25,000 cubic metres of concrete. Some of the processing plant piers exceeded 16 metres in height and were poured in one lift to maximise efficiency and productivity.

The Melchor civils team also worked closely with Western Power to construct the new switchyard associated with the project, supporting the facility's power distribution requirements.

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 constructed

• 46.3 kilometres of underground cabling and earthing installed

• 25,000 cubic metres of concrete placed

• 2,250 tonnes of reinforcing installed