Neometals' mini-pilot program at WA Vanadium Recovery Project yields strong vanadium results
2020-11-04 10:33:41 [Print]
Australia's Neometals has completed a mini-pilot test work program at its Vanadium Recovery Project in Western Australia ("WA"). Results have confirmed excellent vanadium chemical product purity of more than 99.5 per cent vanadium pentoxide and strong recoveries exceeding 75 per cent.
Additionally, leach residence times have reduced by 50 per cent from the scoping study design. Shorter residence time may potentially reduce the size of the leaching circuit and associated capital costs.
To manage the Vanadium Recovery Project's pre-feasibility study, Neometals has appointed global engineering consultancy, Hatch. The study is expected to be completed by the end of June 2021.
Earlier this year, Neometals secured a collaboration agreement with Critical Metals to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a slag recovery facility in Scandinavia. The facility will be used to recover and process high-grade vanadium products from slag.
Neometals will fund and manage activities including the completion of engineering costs and feasibility studies until a final investment decision has been made. If positive, this will earn Neometals a 50 per cent interest in a joint venture with Critical Metals.
In a commercial operation, Neometals and Critical Metals expect to feed 200,000 dry tonnes per annum of slag into a circuit which will involve a multi-staged integrated mill-leach circuit using an alkaline sodium carbonate leaching system.
Following the success of the mini-pilot campaign, around 30,000 tonnes of slag samples from Sweden and Finland have been collected and are scheduled to be dispatched to WA on November 5. This will enable a full pilot plant program to begin in mid-2021.
Additionally, leach residence times have reduced by 50 per cent from the scoping study design. Shorter residence time may potentially reduce the size of the leaching circuit and associated capital costs.
To manage the Vanadium Recovery Project's pre-feasibility study, Neometals has appointed global engineering consultancy, Hatch. The study is expected to be completed by the end of June 2021.
Earlier this year, Neometals secured a collaboration agreement with Critical Metals to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a slag recovery facility in Scandinavia. The facility will be used to recover and process high-grade vanadium products from slag.
Neometals will fund and manage activities including the completion of engineering costs and feasibility studies until a final investment decision has been made. If positive, this will earn Neometals a 50 per cent interest in a joint venture with Critical Metals.
In a commercial operation, Neometals and Critical Metals expect to feed 200,000 dry tonnes per annum of slag into a circuit which will involve a multi-staged integrated mill-leach circuit using an alkaline sodium carbonate leaching system.
Following the success of the mini-pilot campaign, around 30,000 tonnes of slag samples from Sweden and Finland have been collected and are scheduled to be dispatched to WA on November 5. This will enable a full pilot plant program to begin in mid-2021.
Vanadium Pentoxide Flake 98%min In port China
Unit:RMB/mt
China vanadium pentoxide flake producers' inventory to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
