High-purity aluminium group Alpha HPA has started the chemical commissioning of its Stage 1 Precursor Production Facility (PPF) in Gladstone.

The company said process chemicals including bulk reagent chemicals from Orica and solvent extraction chemicals had been introduced to the plant along with aluminium feedstock from Rio Tinto.

“Aluminium extraction has commenced, with the tenor of extracted aluminium steadily building concentration to enable the commencement of the crystallisation circuit next week,” the company reported in an update today.

“All plant utilities and common reagent services are now in operation in support of chemical commissioning.”

The company expects to go into commercial production of its high-purity aluminium precursors in the December quarter 2022.

The commissioning progress comes in a week where Orica announced it was taking a 5 per cent stake in Alpha HPA, delivering almost $20 million as it advances its HPA First project in Gladstone.

The companies have also established a non-binding memorandum of understanding to investigate the feasibility of establishing a new high-purity aluminium manufacturing facility in North America. 

“The continued commissioning progress, combined with the expanding product marketing and the deepening relationship with Orica are all working to build exciting momentum for the business,” managing director Rimas Kairaitis said.

Alpha HPA plans to produce about 10,000tpa of high purity alumina at the $300 million-plus HPA First project in Gladstone, using its own solvent extraction and HPA refining technology.

The PPF will act as the first stage of the larger, full-scale plant.

It is centred on the manufacture and sales of Alpha HPA’s 5N ultra aluminium precursor salts –

– Ultra aluminium nitrate (99.999 per cent purity); used for various speciality applications including coatings, LED and laser phosphors, lithium ion battery electrode coatings and scintillators

– Ultra aluminium sulfate (99.999 per cent purity); used predominantly for the synthesis of aluminium-bearing lithium-ion battery cathode active materials

Alpha HPA says it is in the mature phases of market outreach and project financing as it heads towards a final investment decision on the HPA First project.

T