BRISBANE, June 28 (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) is setting up a battery test plant at an Australian research hub to better understand how its minerals can work for battery makers, an executive said on Wednesday.
Rio set up its battery materials business in 2021 before buying the Rincon lithium mine in Argentina the following year.
It has put on ice its plans to develop a large lithium mine in Serbia, for which research and development was centred at its Melbourne research hub, due to community opposition.
Kaufman said demand for lithium is expected to grow five-fold out to 2030, with a significant supply-demand deficit expected from the second half of this decade.
The battery plant is expected to be operational by November.
Persons:
Rio, Sinead Kaufman, Kaufman, Melanie Burton, Sonali Paul
Organizations:
BRISBANE, Rio Tinto, Thomson
Locations:
Australian, Rincon, Argentina, Serbia, Melbourne, Bundoora