Jervois Commencing BFS Refinery Expansion at Kokkola
16.05.2022 | The Newswire
Highlights
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Jervois commencing Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS") to expand its cobalt refinery capacity at Kokkola
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Jervois Finland - Australia - Jervois Global Ltd. ("Jervois" or the "Company") (ASX:JRV) (TSXV:JRV) (OTC:JRVMF) announces it is commencing a Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS") to expand production of refined cobalt at the Kokkola Industrial Park, Finland.
Jervois' 100%-owned subsidiary, Jervois Finland, is a leading supplier of high quality cobalt-based products, with advanced technological capabilities, product quality and reliability, and a strong commitment to high environmental and sustainability standards. Jervois Finland has more than 50 years' experience in cobalt production at Kokkola, with a global customer base across rechargeable batteries, chemicals, catalysts, ceramics and powder metallurgy applications.
The BFS will assess the potential expansion of Jervois Finland's production via construction of a new refinery that is proximite to the location of its current facilities in the Kokkola Industrial Park. Expansion is expected to be the addition of a minimum of 6,000 metric tonnes of annual cobalt refining capacity, and would be separate from Jervois' existing commercial relationships. An expansion of refining capacity is expected to be available in conjunction with forecast expansion of cobalt demand for the second half of this decade.
Expanding Jervois Finland's production capacity advances the Company's strategy to become a globally significant supplier of speciality chemicals and advanced manufactured cobalt products into battery and other industries, alongside development of its Idaho Cobalt Operations ("ICO") in the United States, which is due to commence cobalt concentrate production in Q3 2022. Jervois has also recently announced the outcome of the BFS for the Stage 1 restart of the São Miguel Paulista ("SMP") Nickel and Cobalt refinery in Brazil, which Jervois is in the processing of acquiring.
Jervois Finland's flexible downstream platform in advanced cobalt material production capacity represents a unique advantage. The refinery will be physically connected to Jervois Finland's existing advanced manufacturing plants, to allow greater optimization of existing product line capacity at both the powder and chemical plants. Jervois Finland has finished product capacity of 11,000 metric tonnes per annum of contained cobalt. Higher refined production will lead to greater flexibility to adapt to end user demands, and to continuously optimize product mix.
Jervois Finland's existing ESG framework, including responsible sourcing, will cover the expanded refinery operations and input requirements.
Kokkola's proposed expansion will lead to Jervois' increased participation in circular "closed loop" recycling, where cobalt material is used by customers and returned to Jervois Finland for regeneration. About 10-15% of the cobalt inputs are anticipated to be received as recycled units, similar to the ratio currently being processed in Jervois Finland's existing operations.
Expansion timing will be determined under the BFS, but will not require any near-term material financial investment for Jervois. Technical partner selection processes in Finland are underway, covering key workstreams such as flowsheet piloting, process engineering and environmental and other permitting.
Initial commercial discussions with both final product customers and refinery feed suppliers (including recyclers) are also underway.
On behalf of Jervois Global Ltd.,
Bryce Crocker, Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact:
Investors and analysts:
James May
Chief Financial Officer
Jervois Global
james.may@jervoisglobal.com
Media:
Nathan Ryan
NWR Communications
nathan.ryan@nwrcommunications.com.au
Mob: +61 420 582 887
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule", "expected" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the production mix at Jervois Finland, the size of the proposed refinery, timing of the study completion, timing of future operations, potential recycling inputs levels and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent Jervois' current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Jervois, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Jervois does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
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