Why is Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) restarting the Bald Hill lithium mine?

Mineral Resources is restarting the Bald Hill mine due to a significant and sustained recovery in lithium prices. The benchmark price for spodumene concentrate has risen to approximately US$2,800 per tonne, which is more than triple the price recorded when the company mothballed the site in November 2024.

What is the timeline for the Bald Hill mine restart?

Operations at the Goldfields site are scheduled to ramp up in late May, with crushing and mining operations officially commencing in June. Investors can look out for the first shipments of spodumene concentrate to depart from the Port of Esperance next quarter.

How much will it cost Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) to resume operations at Bald Hill?

The initial restart costs for the Bald Hill lithium mine are estimated at $20 million. This relatively low capital expenditure is because Mineral Resources already owns the asset, having acquired it for $260 million during a lithium sector acquisition spree in 2023.

What does the Bald Hill restart mean for the Mineral Resources workforce?

The restart will trigger a recruitment drive for roughly 370 new roles to support the expanding operations. MinRes plans to internally redeploy 110 workers from its other operations to Bald Hill, and will subsequently backfill those 110 vacancies across the broader business.

How does this decision change the Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) investment thesis?

The restart solidifies MinRes as a dominant global lithium producer, making it the only company globally to operate three hard rock lithium mines with dedicated spodumene concentrate facilities.

What are the main bull and bear points for Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) after this news?

The bull case is that MinRes can rapidly capture high margins with spodumene prices at US$2,800 per tonne for a low $20 million upfront cost. The bear case is that the company is increasing production in a historically volatile commodity market, which could backfire if global lithium prices crash again.

What are the key risks for investors looking at Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) right now?

The primary risk is commodity price volatility. Management previously urged caution regarding the restart due to the unpredictable nature of the lithium market, meaning any sudden drop in global EV battery demand or oversupply could hurt the project's economics.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Not a real photo.

MinRes restarts Bald Hill mine, creating 370 jobs

Written by Jon CuthbertPublished May. 18 2026Last Updated May. 18 2026

Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) is set to dust off its mothballed Bald Hill lithium mine in the Goldfields, triggering a recruitment drive for roughly 370 new employees.

The company announced that activity at the site will ramp up in late May, with crushing and mining operations scheduled to commence in June.

The spodumene concentrate benchmark price has soared to approximately US$2,800 per tonne—more than triple the price recorded when Bald Hill was switched off in November 2024.

First shipments of the concentrate are slated to depart the Port of Esperance next quarter.

To support the restart, MinRes plans to create 370 jobs, which includes backfilling 110 roles after those workers are redeployed from other operations. The initial restart costs are estimated at $20 million.

"Once production resumes at Bald Hill, MinRes will be the only company globally operating three hard rock lithium mines, each with their own spodumene concentrate facilities," MinRes CEO Chris Ellison said.

He added that the mine—joining Wodgina in the Pilbara and Mt Marion in the Goldfields—uniquely positions the company to meet growing global demand for battery minerals.

MinRes originally flagged the restart in January, though CFO Mark Wilson noted at the time that the company would proceed cautiously given lithium's volatility.

MinRes acquired the Bald Hill asset for $260 million during a 2023 lithium spending spree.