While Kalium Lakes Ltd., Balcatta, Western Australia, achieved it first batch of sulfate of potash (SOP) production last October (GM Oct. 8, 2021), difficulties have intervened and it does not expect enough “start-up grade” harvested potassium salt (KTMS) to be accumulated until June.
The SOP purification plant will restart at that time, with targeted commercial SOP sales in July. It said prior impacts to the brine production rates ahead of the peak summer solar evaporation period resulted in less KTMS for 2022 than was targeted.
“We are implementing plans to overcome the difficulties we have encountered to date and expect to restart the processing plant in the next quarter as soon as sufficient ‘start-up grade’ of KTMS has been accumulated,” said Kalium CEO Len Jubber. “We are confident that the revised commissioning plan will be successful.”
Another problem is that the region is expecting a dramatic escalation in COVID-19 cases in late March. It said mobilizing international equipment specialists and project designer Ebtec would take place after the wave has passed.
Kalium is now projecting an 80,000 mt/y run rate by first-quarter 2023, with a targeted 120,000 mt/y by third-quarter 2024.
As a result of the new ramp-up schedule, the company does not anticipate investment not being required for the SOP purification plant and power station expansion works until 2023.