Australia's PLS Awards TOMRA Contract for Installation of 22 Sorters

en.Wedoany.com Reported - PLS (Pilbara Minerals) has awarded TOMRA Mining a contract to install 22 ore sorters at its Pilgangoora lithium mine in Western Australia. The order forms part of the early works program approved by PLS ahead of the final investment decision (pre-FID) for the P2000 project. Engineering design and procurement of long-lead items will commence immediately, but the final advancement of the P2000 project remains subject to a positive final investment decision by the PLS Board.

This new contract builds on the successful delivery of the Pilgangoora crushing and ore sorting facility. That facility formed part of a previous expansion project and, once operational, supported higher throughput, more consistent feed grade, and greater operational flexibility. Today, the Pilgangoora operation stands as one of the representative examples of large-scale ore sorting integration in the mining industry, with TOMRA's technology playing a pivotal role in the evolution of the sorting plant from initial implementation to full-scale operation.

The scope of supply under the contract includes 22 TOMRA XRT ore sorters, encompassing secondary and tertiary X-ray sorting units, along with project management services, specialized tooling, packaging, and delivery. Should the P2000 project receive approval from the PLS Board, this installation will represent the next phase of expansion for Pilgangoora's ore sorting infrastructure.

Albert du Preez, Senior Vice President and Head of TOMRA Mining, stated that the existing sorting circuit has demonstrated the reliability, availability, and consistency required to support Pilgangoora's continuous, high-throughput operations. P2000 represents the next stage of this journey, building on years of successful collaboration between TOMRA and PLS and reflecting both organizations' confidence in the value that large-scale sensor-based sorting brings to lithium processing operations. He also noted that the significance of this contract extends beyond equipment supply—it demonstrates how sensor-based sorting has matured from an innovative processing technology into a stable, trusted component of modern lithium process flowsheets.

TOMRA's partnership with PLS goes beyond equipment supply. Since the initial test work and ore characterization programs commenced in 2017, TOMRA has worked closely with PLS across testing, project development, commissioning, and ongoing operational support. Dedicated on-site technical support, combined with remote connectivity to TOMRA's global network, has helped optimize the plant's long-term performance and driven the integration of sorting technology into Pilgangoora's day-to-day operations.

As hard-rock lithium operations continue to expand globally, operators are increasingly focused on technologies that improve resource utilization, stabilize feed quality, and enhance downstream plant performance. Pilgangoora's track record demonstrates that sensor-based sorting can deliver these benefits at industrial scale while being fully integrated into routine production workflows. This P2000 contract marks the next significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between TOMRA Mining and PLS, further reinforcing the role that ore sorting technology plays in large-scale lithium production.