Keep Your Wheels Turning

LITHIUM Australia is assessing the use of recycled battery components as fertiliser micro-nutrients. Glasshouse testing of mixed metal dust recovered from recycled alkaline batteries were completed under the direction of the company’s consulting agronomist. Nine tests were conducted on a quadruplicate basis to statistically assess mixed metal dust (MMD) performance as a fertiliser against control samples. The alkaline MMD is produced by the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Envirostream Australia at its spent-battery recycling facility in Victoria. Envirostream collects the spent alkaline batteries from pick-up points at numerous locations, including Bunnings, Officeworks and Cleanaway, which are then mechanically shredded, with the cathode and anode active compounds (collectively referred to as MMD) separated. That material contains the high levels of zinc and manganese...

The Warrego Energy (ASX:WGO) and Strike Energy Limited JV has obtained significant final results of the flow testing activities at WE3 from the West Erregulla gas field in the onshore Perth Basin in Western Australia. The testing programme at the WE3 location from the 40m of perforations across the Kingia Sandstone reservoir from 4,733m (measured depth) has now been completed with the well performed strongly during the seven-day multi-rate test with high flowing well head pressures throughout the programme. The well remained very stable for the five-hour high-rate test which was constrained by well testing equipment and was recorded at 83 mmscf/d with a flowing well head pressure of 3,474 psi on a 68/64” choke. Once the test was completed...

Fingerboards project receives new lease on life The Victoria Resources Regulator has renewed two retention licences held by Gippsland Critical Minerals at the Fingerboards mineral sands project. As part of this renewal, the regulator has placed strict conditions on Gippsland with the company to seek a Victorian Government determination on the future requirements of the Environmental Effects Statement, following the project’s failure to gain approval in 2021. Other milestones and performance requirements include thorough engagement with the community and Traditional Owners, climate modelling, environmental baseline monitoring and rehabilitation trials. Failing to deliver these milestones could lead to the cancellation of the licences. Resources Victoria executive director regulatory operations...

Queensland Government invests up to $30m in sapphire glass production The Queensland Government is set to invest up to $30m to Alpha Sapphire, a subsidiary of Alpha HPA (ASX:A4N) for the production of sapphire glass. The investment, which is through the $100m Queensland Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund (managed by the Queensland Investment Corporation), will accelerate the delivery of two purpose-built furnaces used to ‘grow’ sapphire glass at Alpha HPA in Gladstone, Queensland. These units, Phases A and B, will allow Alpha HPA to produce more than 4tpa of sapphire glass from high purity alumina (HPA). Due to its durability, sapphire glass is ideal for use in micro-LEDs...