Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC) continues to make significant progress on its cutting-edge Silumina AnodesTM pilot plant project in Saxony, Germany, as well as the definitive feasibility study (DFS) planned for the 10,000-tonne-per-annum (tpa) plant.
The company recently finished a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the construction of a 10,000 tpa Silumina Anodes plant boasting an impressive net present value (NPV) of US$507 million.
So far, Altech has completed the front end of the plant, known as the wet circuit, with commissioning of the wet circuit underway. It has also completed and is commissioning the on-site laboratory.
The pilot plant will be adjacent to the proposed project site to facilitate the qualification process for its Silumina Anodes product.
Altech is looking to fast track its patented technology to market. It is incorporating high-capacity high-purity alumina-coated silicon and graphite in lithium-ion batteries.
Construction is progressing well
Construction of the plant is moving according to plan, with excellent progress on the wet circuit including power supply, laboratory, building modifications, and front-end wet circuit infrastructure completed.
The necessary building modifications and electrical panel infrastructure construction were completed in the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, the establishment of the on-site laboratory is a significant step towards enabling Altech to conduct necessary testing and analyses of the Silumina Anodes product.
Altech has established an on-site glove box, which will facilitate the production of lithium-ion battery coin half cells, to be used to test the performance of the Silumina Anodes produced from the pilot plant.
The company sees this as crucial to the product qualification process and will provide important data on the product's performance characteristics.
With fabrication of the back-end of the pilot plant, including the coating equipment, dryer, and calciner (with longer lead times) underway in South Africa and Europe, Altech is expediting the production of back-end items like silicon carbide linings.
Altech expects the final items will be installed and commissioned by end of Q3 this year.
According to managing director Iggy Tan the advancements are highly promising, given its crucial role in supplying customer samples.
Tan noted the primary goal of the pilot plant is to offer product for customer testing, which has generated significant interest in the market.
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