Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM) is completing testwork on lithium concentrate processing residues as it formulates preliminary mine designs, mine planning, and production scheduling for its Reung Kiet Lithium Project in Thailand.
The $21.71 million market capitalisation company says the works will assist with project design and the preparation of a mining lease application, as well as with inputs into a Prefeasibility Study (PFS).
Pan Asia is testing the lithium concentrate processing residues’ application as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to convert a waste stream into a by-product, helping lower the carbon footprint of the cement industry.
SCMs are also used in concrete to reduce the requirement for cement clinker, an intermediate product in the sector.
The company has been collaborating with one of Thailand’s largest cement manufacturers to determine the use and economic value of residues from lithium concentrate processing from Reung Kiet ore.
According to Pan Asia, the testwork confirms that the residues can be used in cement manufacturing, and further work on siltstone waste confirms that this waste is ‘chemically benign’.
Pan Asia plans to also apply the testwork to lithium conversion residues.
The testwork builds on Pan Asia Metals’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials and diverts an otherwise one-million-tonne-per-annum (tpa) waste stream from lithium concentrate processing into a valuable by-product.
Pan Asia also notes that as part of its by-product strategy, it aims to secure battery and critical metal development projects near key infrastructure and industry to help facilitate the creation of valuable by-products and reduce the physical footprint of its future mining operations.
The company anticipates all by-products and waste streams from Reung Kiet to be utilised in value-adding initiatives, therefore reducing the footprint of its mining operations in Thailand.
Managing Director Paul Lock says the testwork has the potential to place the company at an advantage over other lithium producers.
“The positioning of the RK Lithium Project near major growth and industrial centres allows us to consider alternatives to traditional mining and processing waste practices.
We expect to be able to achieve similar outcomes with our mining and beneficiation residues, placing PAM at an advantage to other lithium producers. This is a major part of our ESG plan.
Our positioning in Chile has the potential to achieve similar outcomes, particularly with residual salt.”
“The positioning of the RK Lithium Project near major growth and industrial centres allows us to consider alternatives to traditional mining and processing waste practice”
Pan Asia Metals represents the only publicly listed battery materials company with lithium projects in Southeast Asia and South America.
The company’s assets sit in Thailand — the largest vehicle producer on the continent — and in the Atacama region of Chile.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Pan Asia Metals
