GME Resources has completed bulk sample collection and sonic drilling program at its NiWest Nickel Cobalt Project in Western Australia on time and on budget.

The 10 tonne NiWest ore bulk sample will now be transported for pilot-scale processing to produce battery-grade nickel and cobalt products for testing by potential offtake partners.

This includes Stellantis, which entered a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding for the future sale of quantities of battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulphate products from GME Resources (ASX:GME) back in October.

The company is also in advanced discussions with other parties.

Accelerating offtake and project financing

NiWest is an advanced project with a large, high-grade laterite resource of 85.2 million tonnes grading 1.03% nickel and 0.065% cobalt containing 878kt of nickel and 55.4kt of cobalt.

And GME MD Paul Kopejtka says that successful completion of the drilling program on time and on budget is another positive step forward for the Project

“By significantly increasing the quantity of battery-grade nickel and cobalt samples available for potential customers, we’ll be able to accelerate this engagement program linked to offtake and project financing,” he said.

Drilling results support the DFS

Results from the sonic drilling are expected in the first quarter of 2023 – which will support an enhanced mine plan in the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).

“The advanced nature and resource scale of the NiWest Project means only limited drilling was required to support the enhanced mine plan in the Definitive Feasibility Study,” Kopejtka said.

“With this program now completed, we will be incorporating the results into the NiWest Mineral Resource and Mine Plan which has potential to extend to a life of more than 30 years.”

The results will also seek to improve the resource confidence of several deposits at NiWest, particularly the Wanbanna deposit which hosts a resource containing 111kt of nickel and 7.2kt of cobalt and was not included in the 2018 NiWest Pre-Feasibility Study mine plan.

Inclusion of Wanbanna into the current DFS mine plan has potential to further enhance project economics and extend mine life.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with GME Resources Limited (ASX:GME), 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.

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