- Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM), formerly Pure Minerals (PM1), has produced the first batch of nickel-cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) from its pilot plant
- The plant was recently built and commissioned and is part of the Townsville Energy Chemical Hub Project (TECH) in Queensland
- The project is processing high-grade nickel-cobalt laterite ore imported from New Caledonia to produce battery chemicals for the electric vehicle sector
- CEO Stephen Grocott says while there’s plenty of work to do, producing the first MHP from New Caledonian ore is a satisfying achievement
- QPM is up 6.45 per cent and shares are trading at 3.3 cents
Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) has produced the first batch of nickel-cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) from its pilot plant located at ALS Global.
The company, formerly known as Pure Minerals (PM1), constructed and commissioned the pilot plant over this quarter to produce the MHP.
A $4.4 million placement conducted late in the September quarter supported the development of the pilot plant which is part of the Townsville Energy Chemical Hub Project (TECH).
The TECH Project is located in Townsville and will process high-grade nickel-cobalt laterite ore imported from New Caledonia to produce battery chemicals for the electric vehicle sector.
Making this first batch is an important milestone as it demonstrates the direct nickel process (DNi). The DNi process employs a nitric acid leach to produce products that will be further refined to produce battery chemicals.
According to the company, this process is what interests potential offtakers the most, as converting MHP into nickel-cobalt sulphate is established at a commercial scale
“I would like to thank all parties involved who have worked tirelessly on the pilot plant including ALS Global, Altilium Group, CSIRO, Hatch and our owner’s team,” CEO Stephen Grocott said.
“There remains plenty of work to do but the production of first MHP from New Caledonian ore is a satisfying achievement for the company,” he added.
QPM is up 6.45 per cent and shares are trading at 3.3 cents at 11:11 am AEDT.