PLS Boosts Pilgangoora Lithium Resources by 23% Amid Expansion Plans

Australia’s PLS

Higher Grade and Tonnage Strengthen Global Position

Pilbara Minerals (PLS) has expanded the Pilgangoora lithium resources by 23%, driven by a 10% rise in tonnage and a 12% improvement in grade. This boost elevates Pilgangoora’s standing to match the resource scale of Australia’s Greenbushes, the world’s largest hard-rock lithium mine.

Exploration since September 2023 added 39mn tonnes to measured, indicated, and inferred resources at the Western Australia site. As of 2025, Pilgangoora’s total mineral resource now stands at 446mn tonnes grading 1.28% Li₂O and 122ppm Ta₂O₅. Despite pausing exploration in March 2025 due to cost-cutting, PLS has identified a target of 76–102mn tonnes, indicating further growth potential.

Expanding Spodumene Production Capacity

Pilgangoora’s current nameplate capacity is 680,000 t/yr of spodumene, with Q1 2025 production at 125,000 tonnes—down from 188,200 tonnes in Q4 2024. The P1000 project is set to lift capacity to 1mn t/yr by Q3 2025, while the proposed P2000 project could double output to over 2mn t/yr within six years.

However, weaker market conditions may pressure higher-cost Australian spodumene producers to cut output. PLS’s large-scale, higher-grade reserves could provide a competitive advantage in maintaining production and market share during challenging pricing cycles.

The Metalnomist Commentary

PLS’s expansion at Pilgangoora reinforces Australia’s role as a dominant supplier of hard-rock lithium to global EV and battery markets. With both grade and tonnage growth, PLS is positioned to weather market volatility better than many peers. Long-term, the success of the P2000 project could transform Pilgangoora into one of the largest spodumene producers worldwide.