Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd. has taken another value-adding step to its phosphate production with planned manufacturing of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) at Korella South.
Chatham Rock Phosphate has started a prefeasibility study for the production of DCP from the Korella and Korella South phosphate projects in Queensland.
DCP is an essential ingredient in the diet for all farmed animals, including beef cattle in feedlots as well as all dairy cattle, in that it enables healthy bone growth.
DCP is currently a fully imported product that has recently become subject to supply chain difficulties.
Internal discussions concerning the production of DCP started back in January, 2021, when Avenir Makatea Pty. Ltd. was approached by Belgian company Prayon SA as to whether the technology was suitable for its Makatea project. Having regard to the high demand for DCP in Australia and in particular Queensland beef feedlots, attention turned to looking at sources of phosphate in Northern Territory and Queensland.
Since the merger of Avenir Makatea and Chatham Rock in July, 2021, a detailed scoping study for siting of the DCP plant has been undertaken in conjunction with Prayon having regard to supply of the three key ingredients: phosphate, limestone and sulphuric acid. Three sites were considered, one in Northern Territory and three in Queensland.
Following the recent application for an exploration area at Korella South adjacent to the Korella mine, the decision has now been taken to progress to the prefeasibility study stage with a plant proposed to be located at Korella South and supplied with phosphate from the adjacent Korella mine.
Samples of Korella phosphate are now on their way to phosphate technology specialist Prayon SA for testing to establish the parameters for production of DCP through its “GetMoreP” technology (GMP).
In the GMP process, additional inputs are limestone and sulphuric acid. The process involves the addition of sulphuric acid to the phosphate under diluted conditions followed by a neutralization using limestone to form the DCP. The process conditions enable a purification of the product through a chemical removal of the impurities.
Since Korella and Korella South are located in the Northwest Queensland mineral district, both additional inputs, i.e. limestone and sulphuric acid, are readily available locally.
With the expected arrival of samples in February, 2022, at Prayon’s European testing facility, initial results are expected by the end of March, 2022. Prayon will start the program by a prefeasibility test that will provide the following information:
Definition of the working conditions (to be applied for further feasibility tests);
Determination of the P2O5 extraction rate through the GMP process;
Determination of the P2O5 percentage in the DCP;
Assessment on the feasibility to produce DCP from Korella raw material through the GMP process.
- Definition of the working conditions (to be applied for further feasibility tests);
- Determination of the P2O5 extraction rate through the GMP process;
- Determination of the P2O5 percentage in the DCP;
- Assessment on the feasibility to produce DCP from Korella raw material through the GMP process.
About Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd.
The company’s strategy is to build a two-million-tonne-per-annum international phosphate mining and trading house with a focus on low-cadmium organic phosphate while value-adding through innovative technology.
The first step was taken on Dec. 22, 2020, when the company announced the proposed acquisition of Avenir Makatea Pty. Ltd. The acquisition was completed on July 1, 2021, thereby adding a second project to the original Chatham Rise phosphate project.
Avenir Makatea is progressing the recovery of phosphate from the French Polynesia island of Makatea, while enabling the rehabilitation of the island.
Combining the expertise within Chatham and that of Avenir Makatea has enabled Chatham to move rapidly toward its goal of becoming an international producer and trader of organic low-cadmium rock phosphate.
The second step was the announcement, in October, 2021, of the acquisition of the fully permitted Korella phosphate and rare earth mine in Queensland, Australia, with its ability to generate positive cash flows starting in 2022.
So now Chatham is shortly to be a phosphate-producing company with a mine and two projects in the pipeline, with one of these projects only a few months away from being permitted.
Chatham was also admitted to membership of Safer Phosphates, an exclusive status limited to producers of low-cadmium phosphate.
The third step was the application for an exploration permit over an area adjacent to and south of the Korella mine. The Korella South exploration area of 196 square kilometres will potentially increase phosphate reserves and associated rare earths.
This announcement of planned production of DCP is the fourth step forward for Chatham and is the first initiative in value-adding to the company’s phosphate deposits through use of innovative technology.
Further, and as already announced, there are other phosphate projects (both mines and trading relationships) likely to be acquired or developed.
