Greenvale Energy is taking a staged approach to the Alpha torbanite project in Queensland based on the development of two trains. Pic via Getty Images
Greenvale Energy lines up a slam dunk with 100,000tpa bitumen production plan
Mining
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- Greenvale Energy says early results from the liquefaction test program 4 support a long-life project at Alpha
- The company is planning on a staged approach to bitumen production with an initial 100,000tpa target
- PFS to be finalised in Q2
Special Report: Greenvale’s Alpha deposit is currently being analysed on several fronts in preparation for the delivery of a PFS, with early results supporting an initial 100,00tpa bitumen processing plant.
Greenvale Energy (ASX:GRV) ultimately hopes to increase bitumen production at Alpha to 200,000tpa, potentially positioning the deposit to meet a portion of rapidly growing demand for bitumen and blended products for local supplier and infrastructure needs.
The company’s staged approach to production is based on the development of two trains, with the design of Train 1 underpinned by results from the completed liquefaction test programs (programs 1, 2 & 3) as well as preliminary indications from test program 4.
GRV says this information has informed the conceptual design basis of the plant, initially aimed at producing 100,000t of bitumen and blended products annually from 500,000t of mined resource.
Two decades of mine life at Alpha
Train 2 would begin on completion of Train 1 construction with annual production then increasing to 200,000t by expanding the process plant and increasing mining by a further 500,000tpa, resulting an estimated mine life of 20 years.
The mine life could be further extended via an additional Train 3 if further exploration of the known 10km strike length and further metallurgical test work justifies it, GRV says.
A more rigorous, data-supported evaluation of the Alpha project’s lifespan will be provided as part of the PFS.
‘Robust, long-life project’
“We are now well and truly at the pointy end of bringing everything together for the Alpha Project PFS,” GRV chief executive Mark Turner says.
“The liquefaction test program 4 is progressing well and delivering very promising results, supporting the design premise for a facility initially capable of producing 100ktpa of bitumen and blended products over a 20-year plant life with significant expansion potential beyond that to 200,000tpa.
“While the additional time required to extend liquefaction test program 4 to include the additional resource defined late last year is frustrating, we do not want to compromise the very high standard of work that has been put into this project from the outset.
“All of the work completed to date points towards a very robust, long-life project with the potential to become a significant producer of bitumen and blended products into the domestic market in Australia.”
Opportune time for commercialisation
Given the forecast increase in demand for bitumen over the next decade, particularly from major infrastructure-driven projects such as those associated with the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, Turner says this is a very opportune time to be commercialising a project such as Alpha.
“While I appreciate the frustrations that our shareholders have experienced with the delays with the various test programs over the past year, I do feel that we are now closing-in on the delivery of what will be a pivotal document for the future of this company,” he says.
PFS delivery set for Q2
With the test program 4 is nearing completion and the testing apparatus, technical teams and third-party partners are all up to speed, GRV is not anticipating the additional testing will result in a significant delay to the delivery of the PFS.
Assuming a smooth completion of this additional test work, the company expects to finalise and deliver the PFS in Q2 2024.
This in turn will pave the way for offtake and strategic investment discussions are likely to begin immediately after delivery.
This article was developed in collaboration with Greenvale Energy, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
