Albemarle shutdown a sad but not unexpected result

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas says that today’s news that the American based company Albemarle will put the last operating train at its Kemerton lithium refinery into care and maintenance is a sad outcome for the South West economy and for the workers who have been employed there.

“It comes as no surprise that operations at the Kemerton refinery are stopping but I want to express my sympathies to the workers and their families who are affected by this closure” Dr Thomas said.

“I am sure this is not how they wanted to start 2026.

“The lithium industry has been suffering from low prices, which have dropped dramatically since 2022 thanks to oversupply in the market and a slower than expected take up of electric vehicles.

“This has made the viability of all lithium projects problematic.

“At the same time Albemarle faced difficult issues with the cost and reliable supply of energy, which as a big energy user was making the situation more unstable.

“This combination of factors has delivered the sad result we see today.

“I hope that a correction to the lithium market and stable energy prices will one day see lithium hydroxide being produced in Kemerton in the future.

“In the meantime, I wish the best to the workers in this time of trial and uncertainty.”