FYI Resources has received the go ahead for a high purity alumina mine and processing plant. The company intends to position itself as a major supplier for the LED, electric vehicle, smartphone and television screen and other high-tech product markets.
FYI’s proposal has been formally approved by Western Australia’s Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), and paves the way for the company’s high purity alumina (HPA) project development. HPA is used in lithium-ion battery technologies as a coating for separators.
“With this important milestone now achieved and only minor regulatory approvals required prior to commencing development and mining activities, FYI will continue progressing its HPA strategy in anticipation of arranging full project funding and a formal decision to mine from the FYI Board,” FYI’s managing director, Roland Hill, said.
The foundation of the HPA strategy is the superior quality aluminous clay (kaolin) deposit at the company’s wholly owned Cadoux kaolin project, located northeast of Perth, and FYI’s innovative processing flowsheet utilising uncomplicated moderate temperature and atmospheric pressure technologies.
The mine will feed a processing plant to be built at Kwinana south of Perth to produce 8,000 tonnes per annum of HPA over 25 years.
The approved proposal contains detailed information on the identification, evaluation and management of significant environmental impacts relevant to FYI’s proposed mining operations as well as a comprehensive outline of the MP’s mining schedule and project economics over the life of the mine.