Metakaolin proponent in MOU with Holcim Australia
By Industry Queensland
Zeotech and building materials giant Holcim Australia will work towards the manufacture and use of high-reactivity metakaolin (HRM) in concrete under a new agreement.
Zeotech is a Queensland mineral processing technology company and holds the Toondoon kaolin project, south-west of Bundaberg.
Related: Test pit tonnes to advance Zeotech’s metakaolin goals
Under the memorandum of understanding announced today, Zeotech will provide Holcim Australia with up to 10 tonnes of HRM for concrete pilot trials.
Metakaolin has applications in the manufacturing process for low-carbon cement and concrete products.
The MOU establishes a framework for Zeotech and Holcim to collaborate to advance HRM use, along with negotiating the terms of a potential offtake agreement.
The parties have also agreed to work together on potential State or Federal government funding to develop low-emissions technologies associated with metakaolin production or Holcim Australia products.
The agreement also considers the potential for joint ventures or alternative profit-sharing structures pursuant to metakaolin manufacturing using Zeotech’s high-grade raw ore kaolin and the associated financing and construction of any such facilities.
“We are pleased to work with one of Australia’s leading sustainable building materials suppliers and validate Zeotech’s HRM strategy,” Zeotech managing director Peter Zardo said.
“The MOU provides a framework for ongoing collaboration and the supply of larger volumes of Zeotech’s HRM to Holcim for concrete pilot trials, which will aid the completion of a feasibility study and may lead to future commercial arrangements.”
The company has previously supplied Holcim Australia with kaolin samples for testing and Central Queensland University prepared a report on trials undertaken using the company’s raw ore kaolin.
The report confirmed that a HRM that exceeded the Australian Standard and ASTM International Standard for a manufactured pozzolan could be produced from a range of the company’s Toondoon kaolin profile, Zeotech said.
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