GME Resources Ltd (ASX: GME) has entered into an engineering partnership with Ausenco Services Pty Ltd to deliver the process and non-process infrastructure studies for the NiWest Nickel Cobalt Project Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).
Following a competitive tendering process for the role, Ausenco has been selected and its team brings a depth of knowledge in nickel heap leach and downstream processing operations. This experience is directly applicable to the NiWest development pathway.
Ausenco is one of the world’s most highly capable engineering firms servicing the resource sector and we are delighted to be taking NiWest forward in partnership with their team,” GME Managing Director and CEO, Paul Kopejtka, said.
“Following the successful updated Pre-Feasibility Study, we are now rounding out an expert group of top tier consultants to capture the opportunities we believe exist to materially lower the NiWest capital costs and deliver a world-class battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulphate operation.”
Ausenco CEO and Managing Director, Zimi Meka, said that Ausenco has worked with
Mr Kopejtka on a number of projects previously, and is excited to be forming this engineering partnership to deliver the NiWest Definitive Feasibility Study for GME.
“Projects such as NiWest can apply proven technology coupled with cutting edge innovation to deliver the cost efficient, sustainably produced commodities required to support global decarbonisation and the energy transition.”
The Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and updated PFS outcomes confirmed the technical and financial merits of the development of a stand-alone processing facility to treat the NiWest deposits.
Processing involves two-stage crushing followed by commercially proven, lower-risk, lower-capital intensity heap leaching, coupled with highly efficient Direct Solvent Extraction. This process route has been tested by the company over many years with extensive metallurgical testwork and pilot processing which has resulted in the production of battery grade nickel (Class 1) and cobalt sulphate products from NiWest ore.
The unique metallurgical characteristics of the NiWest ore makes it amenable to heap leaching and thus avoids the elevated technical risks and capital costs associated with the use of High Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL). The net result is forecast low-cost production of high- purity, battery grade nickel and cobalt sulphates.
Ausenco’s role in the DFS will incorporate the following activities:
- Review and optimisation of the NiWest process flowsheet
- Process engineering support in further detailed metallurgical testwork programmes
- Pursue a range of value engineering and optimisation studies including opportunities to enhance the future performance of the heap leach and lower site infrastructure costs
- Completion of the process and non-process infrastructure engineering design
- Delivery of high confidence cost estimates for process and non-process infrastructure components
GME is in the process of making a number of additional consultant appointments and will provide a further update in due course.
