FYI Resources Ltd (ASX:FYI, OTCQX:FYIRF) has cut the ribbon on an extended high-purity alumina (HPA) production run, designed to whet the appetite of prospective clients and showcase its product purity and quality.
The alumina stock has flipped the switch on its Perth pilot plant, which will tailor samples to end-user requirements and give third parties a first glimpse at the facility’s capabilities.
FYI’s production run follows 12 months of stringent test-work and flow sheet optimisation — work the company hopes will pay dividends as it prepares alumina for several markets, including the lithium-ion battery industry.
Samples should make their way to prospective clients by June 2023, giving them plenty of time to review, provide feedback and negotiate as FYI prepares to enter the market.
More work to come
The work doesn’t stop for FYI’s development team: alongside the production run, the company is also completing specialised calcining test-work to further optimise the flow sheet.
The findings will factor into post-production trials, which will determine whether the HPA is ready to meet growing demand in emerging markets.
In a nutshell, the test-work has two objectives:
- to optimise hydrochloric acid recovery during the production cycle — a move that would maximise product quality and energy efficiency; and
- to trial various HPA quality and product characteristic finishes, as directed by potential customer requirements and applications.
This particular trial is slated for completion in May 2023.
Production run “the critical piece”
Since it parted ways with joint development partner Alcoa (NYSE:AA), FYI has been hard at work refining the project strategy and development outline for both its small-scale production and commercial facilities.
Managing director Roland Hill said: “With FYI now back in control of our HPA development, we are undertaking these HPA pilot plant production runs in response to end-user requests that demonstrates the demand for our high-quality HPA.
“We see this production run as being a critical piece in addressing potential customer product assessment needs as the results may lead to further development commitments.
“As a company, we are committed to the development of the HPA project and will continue to address potential customer product specifications as a fundamental function of our project development and project value growth.”