MONTREAL, Quebec, Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbite
Aluminae (TSX:ORT / OTCQX:EORBF) (the "Company" or
"Orbite") today announced that, based on its patented clean
technology for producing alumina, the Company has successfully
developed process parameters and a final design for the production
of alumina (smelter-grade or high-purity) using fly ash which is
created during coal combustion. This is a promising advancement of
Orbite's green technology, offering attractive opportunities for
thermal power producers worldwide.
Fly ash typically contains alumina concentrations ranging from
5-35% along with significant levels of silica, iron, rare earths
and rare metals, depending on the original composition of the coal.
According to the International Energy Agency, coal generates
approximately 41% of the world's electricity and is a significant
fuel source for many industrial thermal processes. According to the
International Aluminium Institute (IAI), approximately 43% of
alumina produced worldwide in 2011 was manufactured using coal as a
fuel source. Until now, fly ash produced by coal-fired thermal
power plants were stored in reserves or discharged with few options
for recycling outside of cement processes.
"Orbite's unique technology has once again proven to be
groundbreaking in its breadth and scope," noted Denis Primeau, Orbite's Chief Engineer. "We have
already succeeded in producing alumina samples from source
materials including clay, bauxite, and red mud, and we have now
successfully expanded our family of feedstocks to include fly
ash. It is truly remarkable how quickly we are able to
validate the economic advantages of the process in addition to
establishing the design criteria."
Richard Boudreault, President and
CEO of Orbite, added, "We believe this is a significant
breakthrough for Orbite; these results mean that our technology
could be used in new ways that were previously unanticipated.
Recovery of the elements contained in fly ash would not only solve
an environmental liability but also generate revenues for companies
using coal-based thermal power in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas."
This new application of Orbite's technology is anticipated to be
economically viable, based on different sources of fly ash, with an
alumina content as low as 15%. Orbite's preliminary evaluation
projected recovery rates which are expected to reach a minimum of
88% of alumina content and 96% of other metals present (e.g.,
silica, hematite, magnesium oxide, etc). The chemical analyses of
the tests materials were performed by the independent laboratory
AGAT Laboratories.
Update on construction progress of HPA plant
Orbite Aluminae is pleased to report it will be receiving
delivery this week of large glass-lined leaching equipment and
multiple reservoirs to its high-purity alumina plant in
Cap-Chat, Quebec.
Construction work is progressing ahead of schedule and plant
commissioning is expected to begin in December.
The technical content in this press release has been reviewed
and approved by Denis Primeau, Eng., a "qualified person" pursuant
to National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure of Mineral
Projects (NI 43-101). Mr. Primeau is the Chief Engineer of Orbite,
and as such, is not independent pursuant to NI 43-101.
About Orbite
Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian cleantech company whose
innovative technologies are setting the new standard for alumina
production. Orbite technologies enable environmentally-neutral
extraction of smelter-grade alumina (SGA), high-purity alumina
(HPA) and high-value elements, including rare earths and rare
metals, from a variety of sources such as aluminous clay and
bauxite, without generating the toxic red mud residue that the
traditional Bayer process produces. The Company owns eleven
different families of intellectual property rights (and patents
pending) filed across the world for the extraction of alumina at
the highest standards of sustainability. Orbite also owns exclusive
mining rights over a total of 60,984 hectares, including the
6,665-hectare Grande-Vallee
property, the site of an aluminous clay deposit in Quebec, Canada. An NI 43-101 compliant report,
Reviewed Preliminary Economic Assessment, dated May 30,
2012 identified over 1 billion tonnes of aluminous clay in part of
this deposit. Orbite is currently converting its 2,600
m2 pilot plant in Cap-Chat,
Quebec, Canada, into a full-scale high-purity alumina
production facility, and expects this plant to be fully operational
by the first quarter of 2013. The Company also anticipates the
launch of construction of its first SGA plant towards the end of
2013. Orbite plans to offer SGA and HPA products and to license its
low processing cost technologies to well-qualified producers who
want to reduce their environmental footprint. Orbite has recently
entered into partnerships with the world's largest aluminum
producer, UC Rusal. Orbite recently published a series of white
papers on the potential markets for its technology for production
of alumina and extraction of rare metals. The white papers
are available on our website:
www.orbitealuminae.com/en/technology/white-paper
Forward-looking statements
Certain information contained in this document may
include "forward-looking information". Without limiting the
foregoing, the information and any forward-looking information may
include statements regarding projects, costs, objectives and future
returns of the Company or hypotheses underlying these items. In
this document, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will",
"likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan",
"estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used
to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results,
and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the
times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved.
Forward-looking statements and information are based on information
available at the time and/or the Company management's good-faith
beliefs with respect to future events and are subject to known or
unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable
factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These
risks uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited
to, those described in the section of the Management's Discussion
and Analysis (MD&A) entitled "Risk and Uncertainties" as filed
on March 22, 2012 on SEDAR, and could
cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not
intend, nor does it undertake, any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking information or statements contained in this
document to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances
or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.
SOURCE Orbite Aluminae Inc.