Australian innovator Altech Chemicals Ltd. said yesterday it has been invited by the government of the German state of Saxony to locate its second high-purity alumina (HPA) plant within its borders.
In a press release, Altech says the state government offered the Schwarze Pumpe industrial area northeast of Dresden as a potential new location, noting the close proximity to lithium-ion battery manufacturers who use HPA in the manufacture of their product.
Altech notes the advantages of such a location, including a robust manufacturing base, a ready labor force of skilled workers and engineers, and a well-developed system of rail and roads. In addition, during a meeting between company officials and Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, Altech representatives were made aware of government grants that may be available to the firm should it opt to locate its second plant in the state.
For its part, Altech reiterated its commitment to completing its maiden HPA plant in Malaysia. However, the firm noted the significant shortfall in HPA supplies expected next year, which it says may well make the prospect of a second HPA plant singularly economically appealing. To that end, Altech indicated that this invitation, coupled with the European Union’s push to increase its transition to electric vehicles, leads the company’s officers to agree that a second HPA plant will likely be built on the European continent.
Altech Chemicals is based in Subiaco, Western Australia and is attempting to implement a marketable process for delivering 99.99% (4N) HPA using conventional equipment at a lower production cost than methods currently available. It plans to construct a 4,500 metric ton per annum HPA plant at Tanjung Langsat Industrial Complex, Johor, Malaysia that will use kaolin clay from a company-owned mine in Meckering, Western Australia. The firm is fast-tracking HPA production due to an agreement with Mitsubishi for 100% of its proposed HPA production for ten years. At present, Altech intends to commence project development later this year.