Globe Metals & Mining Ltd (ASX:GBE) has taken big strides toward commercial production of niobium and tantalum concentrate, beginning the production of concentrate feedstock ahead of construction on its planned chlorination refinery pilot plant.
In preparation, the company has completed several reagent optimisation tests focused on recovery optimisation over grade optimisation.
The niobium content of the initial feedstock is lower than the overall resource grade at GBE’s Kanyika Project in Malawi, which is expected to have an average nameplate production of 3,267 tonnes per annum of niobium pentoxide and 136 tonnes of tantalum pentoxide over a 27-year life of operations.
Globe chose chlorination technology for its refinery due to its low environmental impact and carbon footprint.
The company expects the pilot plant to be constructed and operated over the next few months, producing very high purity niobium of 99.98% for off-take partners to assess.
Steps toward commercialisation
“We are incredibly pleased with the progress made in the metallurgical test-work that is underway,” Globe Metals & Mining CEO Grant Hudson said.
“The physical production of a high-quality niobium concentrate as feedstock for the refinery pilot plant is progressing well.
“The demonstrated recovery of high-quality niobium and tantalum oxides are fundamental steps towards the negotiation and finalisation of offtake agreements as well as the opportunity to finalise the updated feasibility study.
“Globe is particularly pleased with the development of the overall Kanyika Project.
“We look forward to the further results of the chlorination extraction test work and the development and operation of the refinery pilot plant, which will be reported on shortly.”
From here, GBE intends to extract and separate niobium and tantalum using chlorination refining, confirm the levels of radiation present throughout the process and begin construction of its planned pilot plant.
Samples will then be offered to potential partners in preparation for finalised offtake agreements, a major step forward in the development of the Kanyika Project.