The AustCham Westpac Australia-China Business Award (ACBA) has named Tianqi Lithium Australia as the winner of the Cross-Border Investment Award. Founded in 1994, AustCham i is an organization that bridges the gap between Chinese and Australian businesses and facilitates connectivity between the 2 nations by promoting bilateral trade.
The award ceremony was held in Hong Kong late last month by the Australian Chamber of Commerce. A number of awards were presented across 8 different categories to businesses that demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting business relationships between Australia and China. Other notable winners included Downer, Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative as well as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
In 2016 Tianqi made the courageous decision to build the world’s largest Lithium Hydroxide Processing Plant in Kwinana, Western Australia. The company has invested more than $700 million into constructing the plant and has committed a long term investment to the local community and Western Australia. The company has since created more than 900 construction jobs as well as 200 permanent operational jobs in the Kwinana area.
General manager of Tianqi Australia, Phil Thick, accepted the award on behalf of Tianqi and states that it was due to the “hard work and innovative spirit” of the Tianqi Lithium employees.
“As a company, we are always encouraging our staff to think outside the box, challenge the status quo and push the boundaries on what can be achieved,” he said.
“The Kwinana plant is Tianqi’s first fully automated lithium chemicals manufacturing facility outside of China, with many lithium investors waiting for a hopeful success story.
“It will process high-grade spodumene from the company’s Greenbushes mine, and is part of Tianqi’s commitment to serving customers worldwide from a new Australian facility and providing employment for hundreds of Western Australians.”