ABx Group’s (ASX:ABX) 83%-owned subsidiary ALCORE has submitted an environmental effects report to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Tasmania for its hydrogen fluoride pilot plant in Bell Bay.
Equipment for the construction of the site will be delivered beginning April, with further equipment to be delivered and assembled over Q2 and Q3. The plant is expected to begin commissioning in late Q3.
ABx says the establishment of the plant is “proceeding well” with minor civil works, site power upgrade, equipment design and manufacture, as well as balance-of-plant design.
The company has appointed two senior process engineers to help guide the plant through construction and into commissioning.
CEO Mark Cooksey says the company implemented a “best practice approach” to environmental management, which the EPA will provide feedback over in the report.
“The pilot plant itself is proceeding well. We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the first equipment in April, and to see our vision become a physical reality,” Cooksey says.
“Our small team has done incredibly well to advance the ALCORE technology to its current state.
“The appointment of two additional senior process engineers increases our capacity and illustrates our confidence in the technology.”
ABx Group is focused on delivering materials for a cleaner future with priority projects in heavy rare earths, clean fluorine chemical production, and near-term bauxite production.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: ABx Group
