Orbite estimates 12 months until HPA plant start-up

2014-01-29 19:02 ET - News Release

An anonymous director reports

ORBITE UPDATES CONSTRUCTION OF HPA FACILITY

Orbite Aluminae Inc. has provided its first update on the construction and optimization activities of its high-purity alumina (HPA) production facility in Cap-Chat, Que.

As disclosed in previous press releases, Orbite still anticipates a 12-month execution timeline following the recent raising of the necessary capital (see Dec. 10, 2013, press release), comprising the following general phases:

To date, and according to plan, Orbite has initiated:

• Pilot testing of decomposition and calcination by two prospective suppliers of this equipment -- the selection of the supplier and placement of the order will be confirmed by March, 2014;
• The detailed design of sections of the purification unit;
• The evaluation of requirements to increase production capacity from three tonnes per day to five tonnes per day (phase 2a) -- incremental capital costs and a schedule are expected to be reported in the second half of 2014.

Orbite also plans to commence the preliminary engineering for the conversion of the extraction plant to the chloride technology in the third quarter of 2014 (phase 2b). Conversion to Orbite's chloride technology, along with the addition of a scandium and gallium extraction unit, is expected to be completed in 2015. The chloride-based extraction process is the technology platform for the production of smelter-grade alumina (SGA), the treatment of industrial wastes such as red mud and fly ash, and the production of other byproducts such as hematite, magnesium oxides and silica, including rare earth and rare metal oxides.