Pre-construction activities well underway for Altech Chemicals’ silumina anodes pilot plant
Altech Chemicals’ pilot plant in Germany will produce 120kg per day of silumina anodes to provide to potential end users for product testing.
Altech Chemicals (ASX: ATC) has confirmed its pre-construction schedule for a pilot silumina anodes plant in Germany is “well underway” and progressing to the expected timeframe.
The plant will be housed in an existing building at the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park in Saxony, adjacent to the site of a proposed full-scale 10,000 tonnes per annum silicon graphite alumina coating plant designed to produce high-capacity silicon graphite battery materials (or silumina anodes) for supply into Europe’s electric vehicle market.
The pilot plant is a key component in Altech’s race to get its patented technology to market.
It will produce 120 kilograms per day of the silumina anodes, which will be provided to potential end-users for product testing.
Procurement process
Altech has commenced a procurement process for the pilot plant, with long-lead items already ordered.
Required building modifications and panel installation commenced in July in preparation for construction.
Detailed design is drawing to a close, with a team from Kuttner Engineering focusing on the development of commissioning and operational documents.
Altech said it was preparing for pre-commissioning of the wet circuit once key equipment arrives.
Definitive feasibility study
Altech has commenced a definitive feasibility study for the full-scale plant ahead of schedule.
The study will run in parallel with pilot plant construction and will be completed by the same Kuttner Engineering team.
Mass and energy balance data from the project’s pre-feasibility study is currently being validated, and minor changes to process design have been introduced to simplify certain areas.
Once the final process design is finalised, process flow diagrams and piping and instrument diagrams will be completed.
Equipment specifications will be finalised and firm and final quotes will be sourced from specialist suppliers.
Project grants
Altech is currently progressing applications for various federal and state grants under Germany’s battery development program.
It is also pursuing other infrastructure and regional financial support programs within the framework of the European Battery Alliance.
Altech’s silumina anodes technology is considered a game-changer for industrial development in Saxony, and Germany at large.
The company said the growing profile of its product within the European battery and car industry has led to higher political interest and economic support.