Covalent Lithium Mt Holland Mine resumes normal operations following major bushfire emergency

The Mt Holland mine site has resumed normal operations and returned to mains power following last Friday's bushfire emergency.  

The bushfire rapidly escalated due to strong winds and extreme heat and expanded from an initial containment area of 600 hectares to 110,000 hectares within eight hours. The fire devastated over 40,000 hectares of Wheatbelt bushland and created a perimeter spanning 173 kilometres. 

The emergency response involved a coordinated effort from multiple agencies across Western Australia. Volunteer and career firefighters from the Perth metropolitan area, Goldfields, and Wheatbelt regions worked alongside the State Emergency Service (SES), Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Parks and Wildlife Service, and local government authorities to contain the fire. 

“The professional response from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and supporting emergency services was exceptional,” said Ryan Hair, CEO.  

“Their coordinated efforts, along with our emergency response teams, local contractors Aerlink, Decmil, MMS & Thiess, and the support from Forrestania Operations' Emergency Response Team, were vital in ensuring the safety of our people and the protection of our infrastructure." 

"Cater Care also provided exceptional support services during the emergency, positively impacting the team's well-being."  

DFES personnel will remain on-site to support and monitor fires in the surrounding areas in the short term.

Covalent Lithium personnel and infrastructure safe following bushfire near Mt Holland operations

The immediate threat from a severe bushfire near Covalent Lithium’s Mt Holland site on Friday, 25 January 2025, has passed with all personnel safe and critical site infrastructure undamaged.

Fires continue to burn in surrounding areas, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is still active in the area.

“Keeping our team members safe was our primary concern, along with protecting our site assets and equipment,” said Covalent Lithium CEO Ryan Hair.

“I’d like to recognise our amazing emergency and incident response teams who effectively implemented our emergency response protocols, as well as the incredible support we received on-site from DFES.”

“All team members and contractors on site remained calm and professional throughout the incident and also deserve recognition.”

Surrounding Western Power infrastructure did sustain damage, and as a result, the site is operating on backup power. Power restoration and a progressive restart of the operation are expected over the coming week.

Covalent Lithium will continue to monitor the site and surrounding fire conditions and work closely with local emergency services.