Project Overview
The Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (“TECH Project”) is 100% owned by Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (“QPM”).
The TECH Project will be a modern and sustainable battery materials refinery, processing imported, high-grade laterite ore from New Caledonia to produce nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate, as well as other valuable co-products. The TECH Project will boast global-leading sustainability credentials for mineral processing, with negative carbon emissions, no tailings dam and no process liquids discharge.
QPM has already secured offtake agreements for 100% of Nickel and Cobalt sales for the life of the project. In addition to being offtake partners General Motors, LG Energy Solutions, and POSCO are also investment partners with a significant shareholding in QPM. The TECH project has a nameplate production of 16kt nickel metal contained in nickel sulfate and 1.85kt cobalt metal contained in cobalt sulfate.
The Queensland Government has recognised the benefits of developing the TECH Project by declaring it a “Prescribed Project”. Prescribed Project Status identifies projects that are of state significance and are economically & socially important to a region. Prescribed Projects’ enables the Office of the Coordinator General to ensure timely decision-making regarding Government approvals.
Feasibility Study
QPM is completing a Feasibility Study for the TECH Project to evaluate the viability and potential success of the project. It will consider technical, economic, legal, operational and time factors and importantly identify the opportunities, risks and constraints for the project.
Subject matter experts and independent consultants will be used when required to ensure that all material project assumptions and results are challenged. An Independent Technical Expert will be engaged to ensure that the Feasibility Study meets market expectations.
Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct: An Ideal Location
The TECH Project will be located in Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct near Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The regional city of Townsville offers a major port, extensive industry and supporting infrastructure, engineering services, and skilled labour, making it the perfect location for the TECH Project.
Located approximately 40km south of the main city by road, the site is well-supported by critical infrastructure such as road, rail, gas pipeline, water pipeline, and the ability to connect to the power grid. The Townville City Council (TCC) is developing road and water infrastructure for the Lansdown precinct, with both Federal and State government funding allocated to assist with funding this infrastructure. QPM has been working closely with TCC to ensure that infrastructure development is consistent with the TECH Project’s needs for construction and operational requirements.
No Name Road looking towards TECH Project location
Sustainable Production
The TECH Project boast unrivalled ESG credentials establishing itself as a leader in sustainable nickel production with a minimal environmental footprint.
Based on an ISO-compliant life cycle assessment conducted by Minviro, the TECH Project will have a net negative carbon impact of 989,000CO2-e, equivalent to approximately 215,000 typical passenger vehicles.
In addition to being negative carbon, the TECH Project is revolutionizing the resources sector by becoming zero process liquids and zero solids waste operation. After leaching valuable metals into solution and refining them into saleable products, the remaining residue is only 25% of the dry ore feed. This residue, made up of silicates including quartz sand, has been found through testwork conducted by James Cook University (JCU) to have structural properties suitable for engineered fill.
Engineering Model Shot: Looking North
Global Technical Partners
The TECH Project process includes numerous unit operations. The critical unit operations use patented technologies from well recognised technology vendors including Kellog Brown & Root GmbH, EKATO Ruehr-und Mischtechnik GmbH, Hatch Technologies Ltd, ANDRITZ Separation GmbH, JordProxa Pty Ltd and SENET Pty Ltd.
Traditional Owners
QPM respects the unique and important association Traditional Landowners and local indigenous communities have with ‘Country’ – the land, environment, culture and a traditional way of life. A strong relationship has been established with the Bindal People, Traditional Owners of the site where the TECH Project will be constructed with a view to building and sustaining cooperative relations.
In May 2021 a Cultural Heritage Management Agreement was signed with the Bindal People ensuring any items with Aboriginal cultural heritage significance are identified, protected from harm and managed under applicable laws and that QPM and the Bindal People maintain productive engagement.
QPM representative Stewart Hagan 2nd from left, with representatives of the Bindal People.
Under 18 Cannonballs Rugby League Team (2022) Top Row: Adrian Sandy Snr (Coach), Adrian Sandy, Terry Connors, Jack Prior, Rayzarlin Pearson, Xavier Hellyer, Allan Wharton, Elijah Tapau-Taylor, Tajshon Messa-Santo, Jamaine Stanely, Vivian Nathaniel Hansen-Murdoch, Simon Hellyer (Coach). Bottom Row: Rashid Henaway (Trainer), Riley Dempsey, Tremaine Priestley, Izaya Leedie, Jayden Henaway, Riwah Walden, Cody Graham, Thomas Sailor, Izreal Osea.
Cultural Disclaimer: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images and/or names of deceased Indigenous people or sites of cultural significance.
Community Involvement
QPM is committed to keeping the community and interested stakeholders informed about the TECH Project. We maintain a strong presence in the community through our Townsville office and by holding regular Community Information Sessions.
QPM sponsors several community groups whose focus is to encourage children’s participation in sport, particularly in regional and remote Queensland. These include The Woodstock Horse Sports Club, The Challenge Games and Townsville Table Tennis.
QPM also partnered with the Gadijura Aboriginal Reference Corporation to sponsor the Under 18 Cannonballs Rugby League Team’s participation in the 2022 Queensland Murri Carnival. The team won all four games finished top of the ladder and had three players selected for the Queensland Team.
Approvals and Permits
All Tier 1 approvals for Lots 19/20 within the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, the Project site, and for facilities within the Port of Townsville necessary for the Project to commence construction have been obtained.
Of the outstanding Tier 2 Approvals and Permits, that is End of Waste Code, Operational Works Permit and Approval as a Major Hazard Facility (MHF) QPM are taking the where required action to ensure the necessary approvals and permits are in place when required.
Products
(L-R): Crushed ore, Ni-Co MHP, Hematite, Inert Residue for Landfill
The operating plants primary products are:
- Nickel sulfate (16,000 tonnes per annum as Nickel) for use in Lithium-Ion Batteries for electric vehicles
- Cobalt sulfate (1,850 tonnes per annum as Cobalt) for use in Lithium-Ion Batteries for electric vehicles
- High Purity Alumina (4,000 tonnes per annum of 4/4N5 HPA) for use as sapphire glass and LED manufacture
Co-products that are produced by the plant are:
- Hematite pellets (500-600,00 tonnes per annum) for use as a feed to blast furnaces
- Magnesium Oxide (20-30,000 tonnes of MgO per annum) for use as a refractory material, a chemical reagent or in agriculture
- Zinc sulfate (250-350 tonnes per annum as Zinc) for sale to zinc refineries
In addition, Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Nitrate, Gypsum, Engineered Fill and Aluminium/Iron Oxide are produced as by-products.
Debt Funding
The debt financing due diligence process, led by advisors KPMG, is ongoing. QPM’s debt financing strategy has been to target a debt syndicate consisting largely of government-backed lenders, led by the Australian agencies Export Finance Australia (EFA) and Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), along with other international export credit agencies. The company remains in active discussions with these Australian and other international government agencies, as well as other commercial lenders for provision of debt financing for the TECH Project.
