Impact Minerals scores $2.87m federal grant for high purity alumina pilot plant

Impact Minerals awarded $2.87m grant for Lake Hope high purity alumina project
Planned pilot plant will provide material for offtake and qualification
Company will also collate data for a definitive feasibility study

Special Report: Impact Minerals has been awarded a $2.87 million grant towards the commercialisation of its innovative process to produce high purity alumina from the Lake Hope deposit in WA.

HPA is on the list of critical minerals for Australia, Europe, and North America, a key component to improving the thermal reliability of lithium-ion batteries.

The company’s proposed 10,000tpa HPA plant would use innovative metallurgical processes to produce HPA and fertiliser by-products from the salts in the Lake Hope deposit, which will be mined and trucked to Kwinana for processing.

This grant is provided under the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects program, which fosters high-quality research and development partnerships between industry and research organisations and was secured in collaboration with CPC Engineering and the Mineral Recovery Research Centre at Edith Cowan University.

“We are immensely proud to be helping drive this transformative project, which not only aligns with but also advances Australia’s strategic interests in critical minerals,” Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) managing director Dr Mike Jones said.

“The federal funding not only underscores the national importance of our work but also enhances our capability to implement world-leading technologies that set new standards in sustainability and efficiency in the mineral sector.”

High quality product for market

The grant is part of a larger $6.4 million project to be completed over three years and designed to provide the company with virtually all of the information required to complete a definitive feasibility study within that time frame.

A key component of the grant funding will be to commence construction of a pilot plant, which is a key goal for 2025, and this will provide consistent material for off-take and qualification trials.

“Being able to commence work on our pilot plant and the subsequent feasibility studies with the world-leading research of Edith Cowan University and the unique skills and experience of CPC Engineering will start to position Impact Minerals at the forefront of the global HPA market, ready to meet increasing demands with a sustainably produced, high-quality product,” Dr Jones said.

“The project is scheduled to advance from initial trials to a definitive study phase swiftly, ensuring timely delivery of HPA and fertilizer samples to potential customers and partners.

“This grant together with likely contributions from the R and D rebate will ensure our next stage of work after the PFS will be well funded.”

Adapting wastewater tech to suit mining

The Mineral Recovery Research Centre at ECU is a world leader in membrane selective technology in which plastic or ceramic membranes are used to remove a wide variety of contaminants from reagents and water.

The technology is well-established in water treatment, and the MRRC is adapting the technology to the mining industry.

Impact believes MST could be a further game changer for producing HPA, notably for cost-effective reagent regeneration and removal of contaminants in wastewater which will lead to lower energy costs, lower emissions and lower operating costs for the project.

This article was developed in collaboration with Impact Minerals, 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.