In March of this yr, Sibanye confirmed by means of a scoping research the potential of the GalliCam mission, and a pre-feasibility research is at present underway. A optimistic end result from definitive feasibility research, it mentioned, will allow a ultimate funding choice on the repurposing of the Sandouville refinery to pCAM manufacturing.
To this point, the outlook of the GalliCam mission is encouraging, the miner added.
Achievements because the first quarter of 2024 embrace the profitable manufacturing of pCAM on the Sandouville plant on a laboratory scale. In July, the corporate made an software for a patent for a novel pCAM manufacturing course of.
This course of, mentioned Sibanye, will allow pCAM to be produced instantly from blended hydroxide precipitate (MHP) in a chloride medium, permitting for fewer manufacturing steps, decrease power consumption, decreased carbon emissions, and technology of fewer waste merchandise in comparison with current sulphate-based processing routes.
This chloride-based course of is anticipated to contribute in the direction of aggressive pCAM manufacturing prices from Sandouville, it added. The manufacturing course of, which continues to be underneath improvement, was conceptualized and designed by Sibanye’s inner crew within the European area.
In keeping with Sibanye, the GalliCam mission affords the Sandouville refinery a brownfield different to leverage the present chloride facility and abilities base into producing pCAM for the European market utilizing a unique feed supply, MHP, to the nickel matte at present being refined on the Sandouville refinery.
Key contract terminated
To handle the Sandouville refinery’s projected losses and to organize it for potential manufacturing of pCAM, the South African miner has reached an settlement to terminate a key business provide contract that was ending earlier than the top of 2024. The termination price is roughly $37 million.
In the meantime, refining of stock and gross sales will proceed into early 2025, and negotiations to terminate different associated contracts are ongoing, Sibanye mentioned, including that there might be no modifications to the Sandouville refinery’s manufacturing steerage for 2024.
“Regardless of the numerous operational and price enhancements achieved not too long ago, the Sandouville refinery stays loss making and, as such, we thank our companions for his or her understanding and consideration in permitting for the consensual cancellation of the provision settlement,” Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman mentioned in a information launch.
“We’re excited to be progressing with our battery metals technique of growing downstream publicity to Europe’s battery metals worth chain. We sit up for working with all stakeholders, together with the French authorities, to construct a number one pCAM facility in Europe.”
Subsequent steps
The outcomes of the present PFS will decide which actions might be undertaken on the Sandouville website throughout 2025 to 2026, the corporate mentioned.
The aim of the GalliCam mission is designed to be a part of the EU Inexperienced Deal and power transition resolution. It’ll contribute to the target of the Crucial Uncooked Supplies Act, of getting 40% refining capability and 15% recycling of European demand on European soil.
Sibanye has mentioned will probably be making use of for EU grants in addition to French and regional funding for the mission.