Australian resource firm FYI Resources Ltd. has entered into a partnership with Alcoa of Australia to run a trial at FYI’s high-purity alumina (HPA) plant in Western Australia.
FYI said earlier this week that the trial would be a 7-day, 24-hour run of the facility that would test the efficiency of its proprietary refining process. During the test the HPA produced will be tested for quality before being sent off to potential end users and marketers with whom it is currently negotiating.
FYI managing director Roland Hill explained that the test is a major accomplishment in the journey to commercializing its product.
“We are delighted to be starting the joint HPA trial production with Alcoa today. A tremendous amount of expertise and effort has been dedicated to this phase of the project. This occasion represents a further major milestone for FYI in the progressive commercialisation of the company’s HPA strategy.”
“We are pleased to have Alcoa join us at this stage of the HPA strategy development and look forward to the pilot plant trial outcomes and continuing the joint MOU discussions,” he went on.
The test, which is being bankrolled by Alcoa of Australia, is expected to validate important performances, investigate scaling up at the site, refine processes in use at the plant, examine the plant’s construction, and put out more material to ship to potential buyers.
The two firms first entered into an agreement earlier this year to explore the possibility of jointly developing and marketing FYI’s alumina.