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.