Lithium Universe appoints key executives to develop Québec processing hub
Lithium Universe (ASX: LU7) has announced changes to the line-up of key executives charged with driving an aggressive development plan for the Québec lithium processing hub (QLPH) in Canada.
The company announced plans for the hub last week, which will comprise a multi-purpose independent 1 million tonnes per annum concentrator capable of processing general run-of-mine spodumene ore.
It has since rolled out a series of strategic appointments aimed at extracting maximum value from the project.
‘First to market’ campaign
Veteran mining engineer Terry Stark has been appointed head of mining and will spearhead the “first to market” campaign for the Apollo lithium project in Québec.
Mr Stark was previously a management executive for Galaxy Resources, responsible for mineral resources assets including exploration and mine operations.
He supervised construction and start-up of the Mt Cattlin mine and established relationships with the Cree First Nation people for the James Bay project.
Experienced lithium executive Roger Pover has been appointed head of the processing and concentrating strategy for the “first to market” campaign.
Mr Pover was previously plant manager for the Mt Cattlin operation and directed many of the project’s optimisation modifications.
He commenced his lithium career at the Greenbushes mine in the early 1990s.
Engineering representative
Mechanical engineer Huy Nguyen has been seconded from Mintrex to act as Lithium Universe’s engineering client representative.
Mintrex was the lead engineering company for design and construction of the Mt Cattlin spodumene plant.
Mr Nguyen has more than 15 years project experience in the mining, minerals processing and construction industries.
He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and is a member of peak body Engineers Australia.
Project manager
The final executive to join the Lithium Universe team is experienced project manager John Loxton who worked on the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant for Galaxy Resources in China.
Mr Loxton has over 45 years of experience across a diverse range of energy, industrial, process, civil and major infrastructure projects.
In 2019, he was engaged by Tianqi Lithium as head of projects for the execution of its investment in a lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia.
In this role, he managed the commissioning of the first train in 2021 and a second identical train in 2022.
Lithium dream team
Lithium Universe chairman Iggy Tan said the new appointments complement the “lithium dream team” of managers.
“We now have one of the most experienced operating lithium teams to help drive our QLPH strategy,” he said.