Kalium Lakes Limited (ASX:KLL) has successfully completed the commissioning of the Beyondie Sulphate of Potash Project’s 7.5MW Power Station in Western Australia, with the commercial production of SOP on track for September 2021.
CEO, Rudolph van Niekerk, said that following on-site performance testing, each of the three 2.5MW gas engines and its associated equipment is fully operational, with all necessary operating licences and permits in place.
He said technical specialists from power station contractor, Clarke Energy, have worked closely with the Kalium Lakes’ team to achieve this important milestone as the Project prepares for commencement of the process plant commissioning activities in the next few weeks,
The power station for the Beyondie SOP Project has now been commissioned and is ready to provide power for the process plant commissioning that is due to start in the next few weeks,” Mr van Niekerk said.
“This milestone, combined with harvesting activities that are in full swing and an operations team that is ready for production, represents a major step forward and significantly de-risks the project in meeting its first production targets. Importantly the Beyondie SOP Project remains on budget and on schedule to achieve first SOP sales next quarter.
“The SOP plant is also entering final stages of construction, with work fronts open to all disciplines, including electrical, instrumentation and piping work. Completion of the standard grade SOP plant is being prioritised and this will be closely followed by completion of the compaction plant, which will use the standard SOP to produce granular SOP.”
Meanwhile,construction of the standard grade SOP plant is now in the final stages, with the focus of construction activities for this part of the plant now shifting to piping, electrical and instrumentation works. Erection of the granular SOP plant has also commenced and is on schedule to be completed when the first standard grade SOP is ready for granulation.
More than 93,000 tonnes of contained SOP has been pumped from the bore field and trenches into the primary evaporation ponds since 2019.
Construction of the ROM pad has been completed and lined with halite in readiness to receive potassium salt stockpiles.
Harvesting of potassium salts is in progress and potassium salts are being transferred to the ROM pad in preparation for commissioning and commencement of production.
