ASX-listed King River Resources has identified a flurry of new economic and environmental improvements during its ongoing definitive feasibility study for its type 1 high purity alumina precursor processing plant. The type 1 aluminium salt precursor has shown a 5N level or 99.999 per cent purity and is considered an essential ingredient in the battery manufacturing industry.
The definitive feasibility study, or DFS is hurtling towards a May 2022 delivery for the company’s proposed 2,000 tonne per annum high purity alumina, or “HPA” production facility that uses the company’s proprietary “ARC” process to achieve its enviably high levels.
King River has forecast global HPA demand to grow at a staggering 30 per cent per year until at least 2028 with the global economic transition towards clean energy being the key driver.
HPA is an essential component in battery storage, electric vehicles, LED lighting and portable electronics that have all been experiencing sustained levels of year-on-year growth.
New plant designs for the 2,000 tonne per annum 5N aluminium precursor plant have incorporated an allowance for future production expansion and product variation allowing the company to be more agile in evolving markets. Expansion will be facilitated by incorporating an additional process train into the DFS that is expected to leave the door ajar to other market opportunities for high purity metals. The adjustment will give King River the flexibility to produce either of the products depending on demand.
Engineers contracted to complete the DFS say the additional process train can be added with no immediate impact to the project schedule.
Source Certain International, or “SCI” has continued to run test work on the laboratory pilot plant, confirming and optimising King River’s proprietary ARC process to produce market-ready samples. It is the fifth round of testing conducted and like previous runs it resulted in purity levels in excess of 99.999 per cent for precursor 1. The sixth testing regime is currently underway trialling some further improvements to the process.
SCI has used industry standard assay methods in addition to duplicate analysis to improve confidence in results obtained.
With HPA demand only forecasted to increase, King River Resources will be itching to get the final results of its DFS locked away so it can initiate its plans of moving swiftly into production.
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By Matt Birney
