From Batteries to Buildings: BGC and TLEA Partner to Revolutionise Low-Carbon Building Products
BGC will significantly cut carbon emissions from a range of its building products under an agreement with Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA) to replace imported high-carbon clinker with aluminosilicate from the Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant.
Every tonne of cement produced by BGC with TLEA’s aluminosilicate, known as TAS, will save almost one tonne of carbon emissions.
The five-year off take agreement also supports TLEA’s credentials as a global supplier of green lithium, by securing a beneficial use for another of its non-lithium by-products. TLEA exports sodium sulphate to customers in Asia to manufacture detergent, and negotiations are underway for its gyplime product to be used in agriculture as a soil conditioner.
BGC Chief Executive Officer Daniel Cooper said the agreement was the culmination of more than five years of research, development and collaboration with TLEA, including laboratory and field trials to test the pozzolanic, or binding properties, of TAS and other forms of delithiated beta spodumene (DBS).
“Our research indicates that TAS, when used in an optimised blend ratio, will outperform generic cement across several performance criteria, including later age strengths,” Mr Cooper said.
“TAS will initially be used in masonry products, concrete blocks and mining applications. Work is also under way to update the Australian standards to name TAS and DBS as an accepted ingredient in blended cement and concrete. This will pave the way for its use in general cement products such as concrete housing slabs.”
The Australasian Pozzolan Association (APozA), established by TLEA in collaboration with BGC and other industry representatives, is leading this work.
Mr Cooper said BGC was investing heavily in the use of TAS in its manufacturing process, installing a dedicated drying plant, and expanding its existing blending plant with two new purpose-built silos and weighbridges, which will lead to more jobs in Kwinana and a boosted local economy.
“Cement manufactured using TAS contains 95 percent less carbon. As a domestically available pozzolan, using TAS as a partial replacement for cement will also avoid carbon miles, and further reduce embodied CO2 and Scope 3 emissions.”
TLEA Chief Executive Officer Raj Surendran said the plant employed circular economy principles to maximise the beneficial use of the non-renewable spodumene ore, and was working toward being 99 per cent waste free.
“This means maximizing value, minimising waste, recycling and reusing critical resources, and continuously improving operational efficiency.
“Every tonne of lithium hydroxide produced at the plant results in 10 tonnes of non-lithium byproducts, the most substantial of which is aluminosilicate, at a ratio of about seven to one.
“Without beneficial uses, these products would end up in landfill at a cost of between $250 and $300 a tonne, this is neither financially nor environmentally sustainable.
“Contracts are now in place for two of our three non-lithium byproducts and negotiations are underway with a potential partner for our gyplime product.
Use of TAS and other DBS in cement products will significantly enhance the State Government’s ability to achieve its industrial (C&I) waste recovery target and deliver on its goal for Western Australia to become a destination of choice for critical minerals mining, processing and manufacturing.
BGC and TLEA are committed to net zero carbon targets.
