ASM JV produces high purity titanium metal with significant energy and environmental benefits

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Month: August 2020

ASM JV produces high purity titanium metal with significant energy and environmental benefits

Posted on by Tim Highley
Highlights:
  • High purity titanium (Ti) metal 20.8kg produced assaying 99.83%
  • Innovative metals process confirms 70% lower energy consumption
  • Ziron Tech optimisation increase metal efficiency by 50%
  • Significant environmental benefits of innovative metal process confirmed

ASM’s joint venture (JV) has produced 20.8kg of high purity titanium metal (99.83%) confirming the energy usage at approximately 30% of the standard titanium industry processes. This innovative metal technology energy usage is 35 kW per kg compared to the industry standard Kroll process that uses 117 kW per kg of metal, and shows significant environmental benefits.

ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said: “Being able to successfully produce high purity metal without incurring the traditional environmental impact is a very significant result for ASM. Our JV team has achieved this result using 70% less energy, with none of the environmental contaminants of comparable titanium industry methods.”

“We are focussed on ensuring these high purity permanent magnet metals and titanium metals do not cause the environmental impacts of traditional methods. With our exclusive worldwide licence to commercialise this clean and environmentally responsible metal-refining technology, ASM is well-positioned in its strategy to add value to all Dubbo products.”

“ASM’s focus is now on commencing a metal plant feasibility which will confirm the optimal size of a plant in Korea, with the opportunity to build additional plants in key manufacturing areas in Australia, North America, and Europe.”

Read the full ASX announcement

ASM’s results for the financial year ended 30 June 2020

Posted on by Tim Highley

ASM’s results for the financial year ended 30 June 2020 can be downloaded below.

The principal activities during the course of the year were mineral evaluation activities for the Dubbo Project, a large in‐ground resource of zirconium, hafnium, niobium and rare earth elements. ASM’s subsidiaries include Australian Strategic Materials (Holdings) Limited that continues to focus on mineral evaluation activities for the Dubbo Project and Toongi Pastoral Company Pty Ltd that continues to focus on managing the farm activities (breeding and grazing of sheep and cattle) and biodiversity offsets as part of the Dubbo Project activities.

The Dubbo Project is development ready, subject to financing, with the mineral deposit and surrounding land acquired and all major State and Federal approvals in place.

Download the full report

 

ASM JV produces second key permanent magnet metal – praseodymium

Posted on by Tim Highley
Highlights:
  • Praseodymium metal successfully produced at Korean pilot plant
  • Commercial pilot plant produces 5.3 kg Pr metal assaying 99.3 %
  • Confirmation of patented metal production method for permanent magnet metals
  • Forward plan for Commercial Pilot Plant production of Neodymium / Praseodymium and Dysprosium metal in August

ASM’s joint venture has produced high purity praseodymium metal (99.3 %) at its commercial pilot plant in South Korea, marking the final testing stage of the patented metallisation process for permanent magnet metals. ASM will now progress to the production of dysprosium metal and to alloying the key permanent magnet metal neodymium / praseodymium (NdPr).

To date, ASM’s Korean joint venture with Ziron Tech has seen successful production of titanium metal and the key permanent magnet metals of neodymium and praseodymium through its commercial pilot plant. Of great importance, the patented process does not have negative environmental impacts that exist in the current supply chain of these critical materials.

ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said: “It has been a real privilege to be in Korea at this time and see the commercial pilot plant and team in action. These metals are essential for advanced technologies, including electric vehicles and clean energy. The production of these key permanent magnet metals brings ASM a step closer to being an integrated “mine to metals” producer.

“ASM has an exclusive worldwide licence to commercialise this clean and environmentally responsible metal-refining technology. We embrace and look to engage with countries, like Korea, that have a vision to move away from the less sustainable traditional production methods.

“This significant result provides a strong base for ASM to progress opportunities with various government and business groups to supply critical materials to Korean industry efficiently and with responsibility to the environment.

“The same could apply to Australia, with ASM currently the only potential integrated supplier of these critical metals, that could support the development of a new technologies’ manufacturing sector in Australia, creating employment and providing a supply base to Australia.”

ASM continues to progress on its 2020 objective to deliver an integrated metals business inclusive of the metallisation and an optimised Dubbo Project in central west, NSW. ASM is advancing the development of its integrated metals plan within Korea and globally. ASM’s Dubbo Project remains ready for construction with all major approvals and licences in place, an established extraction process flow sheet and a solid business case.

The JV with Ziron Tech connects ASM directly with leading South Korean companies, building customer relationships for off-take contracts under the South Korea-Australia free trade agreement, and strengthening the economics of the Dubbo Project.

Read the full ASX announcement

Successful titanium production from commercial pilot plant

Posted on by Tim Highley
Highlights
  • Titanium metal successfully produced through electro-refining process.
  • Commercial pilot plant produces 9.16kg Ti metal powder assaying 99.83%.
  • Confirmation of patented metal production method.
  • Forward plan for Commercial Pilot Plant Dysprosium, Praseodymium and Zirconium metal in August.

ASM’s joint venture partner has produced high purity (99.83%) titanium metal powder through its new electro-refining process at the commercial pilot plant in South Korea. This was the final stage of the patented metal process that confirms 50% less energy is used than traditional methods. ASM will now focus on the production of dysprosium, praseodymium and zirconium metals in August.

ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said:

“ASM’s exclusive global licence to commercialise this clean metal-refining technology, replacing conventional energy-intensive and polluting metallisation processes with a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative is progressing extremely well and reinforces our “mine to metal” strategy.

“In addition to the valuable metal titanium, we have already proven production of a key permanent magnet metal – neodymium – with praseodymium and dysprosium production targeted for August, all essential for advanced technologies and manufacturing. This significant result provides a strong base for ASM to progress opportunities with various Korean government and business groups.”

“Whilst my team and I are in Korea, we are discussing the development of a clean metal plant in Korea to feed critical metals to Korean industry, as well as one in Australia to supply Australian manufacturing. This will position ASM as the only integrated mine-to-metal producer outside of China, providing critical materials directly to Australian and international manufacturers,” said Mr Woodall.

ASM’s 2020 objective is to deliver an integrated metals business inclusive of the metallisation and an optimised Dubbo Project. Given the increased revenues from the production of metals and flotation at the front end of the Dubbo flowsheet, our work is focused at increasing revenues and reducing project capital and operating costs. With all major approvals and licences in place, an established extraction process flow sheet and a solid business case, ASM’s Dubbo Project is ready for construction.

Our Ziron Tech JV is connecting ASM directly with leading South Korean companies, building customer relationships for offtake contracts under the South Korea-Australia free trade agreement. At the same time, ASM is progressing quickly on the development of its integrated metals plan with the strengthening the economics of the Dubbo Project and proving the clean metal process by the production of high purity metals.

View the full ASX Release

 

ASM