Galaxy Progresses Jiangsu Plant Hot Commissioning
Sydney, Feb 24, 2012 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Galaxy Resources Limited (
ASX:GXY) (Galaxy or the Company) is pleased to advise the commissioning of its wholly owned Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant (Jiangsu or the Plant) in China continues on schedule, with hot commissioning of the plant now formally underway.
Galaxy successfully completed cold commissioning in mid-February 2012, which involved ensuring integrity of the plant equipment at Jiangsu, as well as electrical, instrumentation and control systems.
Hot commissioning is the final stage prior to start-up and first production. It involves the introduction of process materials and testing of major areas of the plant under partial or full load.
Galaxy Managing Director, Iggy Tan, said: "Our commissioning activities are progressing according to schedule without any major defect issues being identified to date.
"We are confident hot commissioning will be completed in time for us to commence lithium carbonate production at Jiangsu by the end of the current quarter," Mr Tan said.
Hot Commissioning Update
Galaxy said the kilns and coolers in Area 20 were now operational. The calciner kiln was fired at the end of January and is now in the final stages of the refractory dry-out and curing phase. The sulphation kiln has also been successfully fired and the refractory brickwork dry-out has been completed. This particular kiln is now ready to accept final milled beta spodumene. The Jiangsu site's utilities - such as process water, plant air, steam and natural gas - are fully established and operational.
The leach area has also been successfully tested, with process water being pumped throughout the plant. This area is also ready to accept slurry material.
Galaxy was able to hot commission the lithium carbonate production area and purification plant ahead of schedule. This includes centrifuge dewatering, drying, micronising and packaging. Galaxy has tested this area, where purchased product has been successfully digested, crystallized, micronised and processed through to final bagging. This part of the plant will be operated on a continuous basis until the rest of the plant is ready to process material.
Similarly, the ore unloading and storage area has been fully commissioned.
Final plant areas to be hot commissioned include the sodium sulphate and reagent plants. These plants represent the last areas to be brought on line before first production can be achieved.
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About Galaxy Resources Limited
Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY) (OTCMKTS:GALXF) is an international S&P / ASX 200 Index company with lithium production facilities, hard rock mines and brine assets in Australia, Canada and Argentina. It wholly owns and operates the Mt Cattlin mine in Ravensthorpe Western Australia, which is currently producing spodumene and tantalum concentrate, and the James Bay lithium pegmatite project in Quebec, Canada.
Galaxy is advancing plans to develop the Sal de Vida lithium and potash brine project in Argentina situated in the lithium triangle (where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet), which is currently the source of 60% of global lithium production. Sal de Vida has excellent potential as a low cost brine-based lithium carbonate production facility.
Lithium compounds are used in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, and consumer electronics and are an essential cathode material for long life lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as mass energy storage systems. Galaxy is bullish about the global lithium demand outlook and is aiming to become a major producer of lithium products.
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