The plant is based on the former test plant constructed at the deposit which was used to develop and prove the metallurgical process to be used in the Phase 1 development. It was suitably adapted to treat concentrates and has been further adapted and expanded to recover vanadium, molybdenum and nickel from catalysts used in refineries to remove metals from crude oil.
The existing plant is now in full operation, with the vanadium sold as either ammonium metavanadate or vanadium pentoxide, molybdenum in the form of ferro-molybdenum, and the residue as a nickel concentrate.
All the components of the input raw materials are recovered as products, ultimately leaving no residues on site.
The cash flows from this processing operation are used to support the Company’s ongoing overhead costs during the completion of the Phase 1 feasibility study.
Most importantly, this operation provides the Company’s staff with expertise and experience that is invaluable in the completion of the feasibility study, and to assist with the construction and future operation of the Balasausqandiq project.