- Alkane’s wholly owned subsidiary, Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASM), has developed high-purity hafnium dioxide products tailored to meet market requirements.
- Hafnium oxide exceeding 99.8% HfO2, and 99.9% (Hf+Zr) O2, has been produced using a proprietary process to separate hafnium from zirconium at the demonstration pilot plant at ANSTO.
- Over the past 12 months, ASM has consulted extensively with industry to confirm growing market demand for high-purity hafnium, which currently depends on supply from the production of zirconium metal for specialty alloys and the nuclear industry.
- Global shortage of hafnium anticipated as demand is poised to outstrip current supply.
- Hafnium metal for super alloys is currently trading in a US$800 ‐ $900/kg range. The ASM business case assumes a conservative product price of US$500/kg for its oxide.
- ASM will initially produce 25tpa hafnium to meet projected market demand, ramping up to higher quantities as required.
Hafnium Product Breakthrough Consolidates Dubbo Project Business Case
