Altech Chemicals Ltd (ASX:ATC) is forging ahead with the required building modifications and panel installation for its Silumina Anodes™ pilot plant in Saxony, Germany, in preparation to kick off plant construction next month.
The battery materials technology company is in the race to get its patented technology to market and recently completed a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the construction of the 10,000 tonnes per annum plant, which outlines a net present value of US$507 million.
This pilot plant is designed to produce 120 kilograms per day of Silumina Anodes™ coated battery anode material, which will be made available to selected European battery manufacturers and auto-makers.
Equipment ordered
Procurement of equipment for the pilot plant in Dock3, a leased warehouse space adjacent to Altech’s land in Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park in Saxony, is well advanced, with all long lead equipment already ordered.
Detailed design is nearing completion, with the Kuttner Engineering team focusing on the development of commissioning and operational documentation, while Altech is preparing for pre-commissioning of the wet circuit when key equipment arrives.
Wasting no time
To accelerate the plant commissioning, Altech has set about getting the definitive feasibility study (DFS) completed ahead of schedule. The DFS will run in parallel with the pilot plant construction, with the Kuttner Engineering detailed design team transferring to the DFS.
The mass and energy balance from the PFS is being validated, with minor changes to the process design to simplify the process in certain areas, and once finalised, process flow diagrams and piping and instrument diagrams will be established and equipment specifications will be finalised.
Significant moment
German Federal Chancellor HE Olaf Scholz (centre) arrives at Altech’s Silumina Anodes™ site in Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park.
The Schwarze Pumpe site recently received a special visitor in German Chancellor His Excellency Olaf Scholz, who was heading a special delegation to boost economic development in the Saxony region.
Altech’s German managing director Uwe Ahrens hosted the visit, an event the company said was significant for Altech as the company pushes for higher battery efficiency for the German electric vehicle industry.
Energy security is a significant concern within Germany and represents a key focus, as evidenced by the federal government’s promise of €40 billion in related investments to German regions and industries.
For a slice of the pie, the company has begun applying for the various federal and state grants under the battery development program, as well as other infrastructure and regional financial support programs within the framework of the European Battery Alliance, Structural Development Funds and other special programs initiated by the Federal State of Germany.
Altech’s Silumina Anodes™ game-changing technology is considered as a key project for industrial development for the State of Saxony, as well as Germany at large, and hence, has been invited to present the technology and the project to the federal government.