FYI and Alcoa advance high purity alumina

Perth materials technology group FYI Resources has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with alumina producer Alcoa of Australia for ‘the potential strategic development’ of FYI’s high purity alumina (HPA) project.

FYI has completed a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its Western Australian HPA project involving a kaolin mine at Cadoux, WA and a processing plant at Kwinana south of Perth.

HPA is a high value, versatile material used in lithium-ion battery technologies as a coating for separators.

FYI told investors the MoU was an important step in commercialising the project and established a pathway to a joint venture development project by the two companies.

FYI managing director, Roland Hill said: “(Alcoa) will join us in co-developing the HPA process flowsheet and refining technologies, and commercialising the HPA business model as outlined in our recently published DFS.

“This represents a significant step forward in our project development and is consistent with our broader development objective of attracting globally significant and strategic blue-chip partners.”

The MoU will explore potential offtake customers for HPA to be produced at Kwinana.

The partners will cover further HPA pilot plant viability trials and the companies technical capabilities and capacities.

FYI has developed innovative moderate temperature and atmospheric pressure refining technologies.

HPA has potential uses in LED, electric vehicle batteries smartphone and television screens and other high-technology products.

Picture: FYI Resources/pilot plant commissioning

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