Prospective battery metals producer Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) has ventured into high purity alumina (HPA) production.

QPM and energy tech company Lava Blue have recently completed the first campaign of HPA Demonstration Plant operation, which successfully produced 62 kg of 4N HPA.

Lava Blue is planning to develop its production facility in North Queensland and is aiming to produce at least 5,000 tonnes per annum of HPA.

QPM told the Australian Stock Exchange that the primary objectives of this initial work were to confirm the HPA flowsheet for the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub or TECH Project and produce samples for offtake marketing purposes.

That had been ‘well and truly met’, QPM said in its report.

The TECH project is a $2billion plus venture to build a battery metals plant south of Townsville. 

HPA produced from the demonstration plant has been split into six ~10 kg blends and transported to the USA. 

Main Image: QPM site at Lansdown south of Townsville

The blends have been assayed and results have far exceeded 4N purity the company said in its report.

QPM’s technical and marketing team have been working closely with a specialised US consultant in identifying potential off-takers. 

The initial focus has been on the LED market (sapphire glass). The blends will be provided to potential off-takers for testing. 

HPA was the fourth key material from New Caledonian laterite ore the TEHC project is using as feedstock. The others include nickel, cobalt and hematite.

QPM executed an agreement with Lava Blue in December 2021 regarding the use of its proprietary HPA technology for the TECH project.

The initial production effort from the Lava Blue demonstration plant yielded 99.99 percent High Purity Alumina. This was above the 4N standard threshold QPM said.

Initial target markets included LED manufacturers.