Teething problems at IGO Group’s battery-grade lithium processing plant have not dimmed the miner’s desire to go further down the value chain, with managing director Peter Bradford suggesting work on Australia’s second battery-grade nickel processing plant could be under way by September.

Monday’s vow to quickly begin studies into a battery-grade nickel sulphate plant if Western Areas shareholders approve a $1.26 billion takeover offer came one day after federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese joined Prime Minister Scott Morrison in vowing to invest more in “adding value” to Australian minerals if elected this month.