Blackstone Minerals (ASX:BSX) lays plans for pilot plant, feasibility study at Vietnam project

• Blackstone Minerals (BSX) gets the all-clear to push ahead with pilot plant testing and a definitive feasibility study for its Ta Khoa Project in Vietnam
• The first pilot is planned for early 2022 and is designed to process 20 kilograms of nickel concentrate feed per hour
• Data from the pilot can then be used to support a definitive feasibility study
• Blackstone Managing Director Scott Williamson says the pilot plant process represented a good opportunity for the company
• Blackstone Minerals shares are up 2.33 per cent to trade at 44 cents

Blackstone Minerals (BSX) has been given the all-clear to push ahead with pilot plant testing and a definitive feasibility study for its Ta Khoa Project in Vietnam.

The first pilot is expected to commence in early 2022 with early design works and funding said to be in place with equipment procurement expected this quarter.

Initial works will be designed to process 20 kilograms of nickel concentrate feed per hour, which BSX said can produce approximately 1.75 kg of nickel per hour in Nickel, Cobalt and Manganese products.

Data from the pilot plant performance is then set to support the Ta Khoa Project’s definitive feasibility study.

Blackstone Managing Director Scott Williamson said the pilot plant process represented a good opportunity for the company.

“The board’s endorsement of the recent PFS milestone has been rapidly followed by approval of the first phase of piloting and the Ta Khoa Refinery DFS,” he said.

“The company is acutely aware of its first mover advantage and importantly, will be able to deploy its current balance sheet to continue to fast track the next important stages towards commercialisation of the Ta Khoa Refinery.”

Blackstone’s Ta Khoa nickel-copper-platinum group elements Project is situated 160 kilometres west of Hanoi in Vietnam and includes an existing nickel mine currently under care and maintenance.

Blackstone Minerals shares were up 2.33 per cent at 10:53 am AEST to trade at 44 cents.