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.