Junior sulfate of potash (SOP) producer Kalium Lakes Ltd., Balcatta, Western Australia, said on Aug. 4 it is still targeting late September 2021 (GM May 14, p. 33) for its first SOP production at its Beyondie SOP Project, located about 160 km southeast of Newman, Western Australia. The company reported that it has stockpiled 90,000 mt of potassium salts, equivalent to approximately 9,000 mt of SOP production.
“I am delighted that our forethought, careful planning, and well executed production readiness strategy is delivering results,” said CEO Rudolph van Niekerk. “Having installed a robust network of brine supply and evaporation ponds, we continue to reap the bounty of large volumes of potassium salts above the plant feed cut-off grade, which are harvested and delivered to the ROM pad. With this ample supply of potassium salts, we have expanded our stockpile area and will soon be ready to move from commissioning to production.”
Kalium’s projected initial SOP production capacity is 90,000 mt/y of SOP. However, in March, it indicated that at least 100,000 mt/y capacity might be achievable, and revealed that additional work was underway to increase production beyond 100,000 mt/y, and that the potential to increase throughput up to 120,000 mt/y has been identified through some short-term, low capital intensity improvements (GM March 26, p. 36).
The company has a binding 10-year offtake agreement for Beyondie with Germany’s K+S Group for the purchase of up to 90,000 mt/y of SOP.