Queensland Pacific Metals Limited (ASX:QPM) is thrilled to announce the successful outcomes from its Sulfate Refinery pilot plant activities conducted at the facilities of SGS Canada.
The Sulfate Refinery pilot plant has effectively produced nickel sulfate that aligns with the specifications stipulated in the offtake agreements with industry giants General Motors, LG Energy Solutions, and POSCO. This achievement is a testament to QPM's commitment to delivering high-quality products and meeting the demands of its esteemed partners.
About the Sulfate Refinery Pilot Plant and the TECH Project
The TECH Project, spearheaded by QPM, is set to produce key battery metals, primarily nickel and cobalt sulfate. The commercial flowsheet for the TECH Project will see QPM refining nickel and cobalt, extracted via the DNi ProcessTM, into battery-grade sulfate. This flowsheet, while largely conventional, has been tailored to suit the specific requirements of the TECH Project and to optimize for the planned ore grade.
Since May 2023, QPM has been diligently conducting pilot scale testwork at the SGS Canada facilities. The subprocesses under examination included:
- Aluminium precipitation
- Impurity solvent extraction (ISX)
- Cobalt solvent extraction (CSX) and nickel solvent extraction (NSX)
- Transformation solvent extraction and Purification solvent extraction
- Nickel sulfate crystallisation
The results have been promising, with the pilot plant successfully producing over 10kg of on-spec nickel sulfate. This accomplishment not only meets the specifications of QPM's partners but also validates the commercial flowsheet, a crucial step for securing the backing of potential financiers for the TECH Project.
In the upcoming phase of pilot testwork, QPM is gearing up to produce on-spec cobalt sulfate, further expanding its product portfolio.
Managing Director and CEO Dr Stephen Grocott shared his insights on this milestone, stating, “Nickel Sulfate is the main product being produced at the TECH Project. Production of on-spec material through our pilot testwork is a significant achievement and will greatly assist in our financing endeavours.”
Contact details:
Jane Morgan
jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au