Junior producer Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd. (CRP), Wellington, N.Z., said on Jan. 14 it has started a prefeasibility study for the production of Dicalcium Phosphate (DCP), an animal feed ingredient, at the Korella and Korella South phosphate projects in Queensland, Australia.
CRP acquired the Korella phosphate and rare earth mine last October, and applied for an exploration permit over the 196 square kilometers of Korella South in December.
Samples of Korella phosphate are now on their way to phosphate technology specialists Prayon SA, Engis, Belgium, for testing to establish the parameters for production of DCP through their “GetMoreP” technology (GMP), with initial results expected in March. Under the GMP process, additional inputs are limestone and sulfuric acid, both of which CRP said are readily available locally.
CRP noted that DCP is a fully imported product in the country, and has recently become subject to supply-chain difficulties.
In addition to Korella, in 2021 CRP also acquired Australian-based Avenir Makatea Pty Ltd. (GM July 2, 2021), which is progressing the recovery of phosphate from the French Polynesian island of Makatea, while enabling the rehabilitation of the island. In other recent news, CRP said it was admitted to membership in Safer Phosphates, which is limited to producers of low cadmium phosphate.