PLS Pilgangoora 22-sorter TOMRA contract: process design notes for engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
TOMRA Mining has secured a contract from Pilgangoora Operations Pty Ltd, a PLS Group subsidiary, to supply 22 sensor-based ore sorters for the P2000 Expansion Project at the Pilgangoora lithium operation in Western Australia. The installation is part of PLS’ pre-Final Investment Decision early works, signalling commitment to large-scale sorting ahead of full project sanction. For process engineers, the move points to increased reliance on front-end sensor-based separation to upgrade run-of-mine feed and manage lithia grade variability before downstream concentration.
Technical Brief
- Contract scope is limited to supply of TOMRA sensor-based ore sorting equipment, not full EPC.
- Supply is tied specifically to the proposed P2000 Expansion Project at Pilgangoora, Western Australia.
- Awardee is TOMRA Mining; client entity is Pilgangoora Operations Pty Ltd, a PLS Group subsidiary.
- Package is classified by PLS as “pre-FID early works”, enabling long-lead procurement ahead of sanction.
- Early works status suggests sorter design and layout must accommodate potential FID-driven scope adjustments.
- Sensor-based sorters will be integrated at the Pilgangoora Operation’s front end, before downstream processing circuits.
- Similar lithium expansions are increasingly locking in sorter OEM capacity during pre-FID to avoid fabrication bottlenecks.
Our Take
The Pilgangoora Operation in Western Australia, run by PLS Group, has recently been flagged in our coverage for record FY26 spodumene concentrate output, so a 22-sorter TOMRA Mining installation at the P2000 Expansion Project likely targets debottlenecking and grade control rather than just marginal efficiency gains.
Earlier coverage of PLS Group’s pre-FID capex approval for accelerating the P2000 expansion indicates that committing to a large-scale sensor-based sorting package at Pilgangoora is part of a broader front-loaded investment push rather than a late-stage optimisation bolt-on.
Across several recent TOMRA Mining pieces in our database, including work with SRK Consulting on pebble recirculation and tailings reprocessing, sensor-based sorting is being used to cut energy intensity and reclaim material; deploying 22 sorters at Pilgangoora suggests PLS is positioning this Western Australian asset to stay competitive on operating costs through orebody variability and lithium price cycles.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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