MinRes bets big on lithium’s comeback with Bald Hill restart

After months of recalibrating strategy against a volatile lithium market, Mineral Resources is officially announcing bringing the Bald Hill lithium operation back online, a move that signals far more than a mine restart. It marks a renewed vote of confidence in the future of battery minerals and the resilience of Australia’s hard-rock lithium sector.

Located 50 kilometres south-east of Kambalda in Western Australia’s Goldfields region, Bald Hill holds a production capacity of approximately 165,000 dry metric tonnes per annum of 5.1% spodumene concentrate, equivalent to 140,000dmt of SC6 annually. The operation had been placed on care and maintenance in November 2024, a decision aimed at preserving capital while safeguarding the long-term value of its 58.1 million tonne Mineral Resource grading 0.9% Li₂O.

Now, with lithium prices staging a sustained recovery and spodumene demand strengthening again, the project is returning to life under a carefully staged operational plan.

Restarting at speed

What distinguishes this restart is the speed and operational readiness behind it. MinRes is leveraging existing site inventory, internal mining equipment fleets and workforce networks already embedded across the business. The company’s integrated build-own-operate model will once again be central to the project, with its Mining Services division responsible for mining, crushing, processing and haulage operations.

Activity on site is expected to ramp up in late May, with crushing and mining scheduled to begin in June. First spodumene concentrate production is targeted for July, while the initial shipment through the Port of Esperance is expected during the first quarter of FY27. Full production capacity is anticipated by the second quarter of FY27.

The restart is also expected to generate around 370 jobs, including more than 100 redeployments from other MinRes operations, a signal of both operational flexibility and confidence in the company’s broader growth trajectory.

Positioning for the next lithium cycle

For MinRes Managing Director Chris Ellison, the timing is no coincidence. “With strong and sustained demand for spodumene concentrate driving a significant recovery in prices, the time is right to restart operations at Bald Hill,” Ellison said. “The combination of a high-quality, production-ready asset and the in-house capability of our Mining Services business means MinRes is well placed to rapidly capitalise on the resurgent lithium market.”

But beyond restarting a single operation, the company is making a much larger statement about scale and market leadership.“Once production resumes at Bald Hill, MinRes will be the only company globally operating three hard rock lithium mines, each with their own spodumene concentrate facilities,” Ellison said. “This uniquely positions us as a leader in the lithium market and demonstrates our commitment to meeting the world’s growing demand for battery minerals.”

Lithium’s Recovery Gains Momentum

The restart of Bald Hill reflects a broader shift unfolding across the lithium sector. After an extended downturn that forced operators worldwide into cost-cutting and production suspensions, miners are beginning to reposition for the next demand cycle, one increasingly tied to accelerating electric vehicle adoption, grid-scale energy storage and industrial decarbonisation.

For Australia’s lithium industry, Bald Hill may become one of the clearest indicators yet that the market is transitioning from survival mode back into expansion.