The contract is part of a development program at the customer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, US, the only known lithium-boron deposit in North America and one of two such deposits in the world. Its unique mineralogy, together with the use of ABB’s commercially proven equipment and technology, allows lithium and boron to be extracted in a low-cost and environmentally sustainable manner.
Under the contract, ABB will commence work on systems engineering and optimization for the equipment packages, which include a steam turbine generator, medium and low voltage electrical distribution, power management and plant-wide process automation and instrumentation systems for the power generation, acid and lithium-boron processing plants. ABB will use its comprehensive ABB Ability™ MineOptimize approach and portfolio of optimized engineering, products and systems, electrification and automation solutions, digital applications and remote services.
“The Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project represents an opportunity for the US and the world to ensure the supply of the minerals needed to successfully transition to sustainable transport and we’re proud to be part of it,” noted Joachim Braun, President of ABB’s Process Industries Division.