(TheNewswire)
Novel Process forBioleaching Pyrrhotite Tailings Using Natural Bacteria HoldsZero-Carbon Potential for Green Steel and EV Battery MetalApplications
TORON TO, ON – TheNewswire - April 7, 202 2 – BacTech EnvironmentalCorporation (CSE:BAC ) , ( OTC: BCCEF ) , ( FSE:0BT1) (“ BacTech ” or the “ Company ”), acommercially proven environmental technology company deliveringeffective and eco-friendly bioleaching and remediation solutions,today announces it has filed a patent application for a novelbioleaching process relevant to the treatment of pyrrhotite tailings for iron and nickel-cobalt recovery asglobal leaders and sustainability experts search for solutions todecarbonize steel production and shore up EV battery metal supplychains.
Pyrrhotite is an iron sulphide mineral containing lowlevels of nickel, cobalt, and copper -- typically dismissed anddiscarded as an uneconomical waste by-product by mining operationsthat continues to perpetuate an environmental tailings legacy in needof remediation. In the Sudbury basin of Ontario, there is a vastresource of ? 0.8%Ni-bearing pyrrhotite tailings, which has been disposed of separatelyin shallow lakes since the early 1990s in compliance with knownenvironmental and sustainable development standards. 2 An averagegrade of 0.7% nickel translates to half a million tonnes of nickelmetal 3 , valued at US$15B (assuming market prices of $30,000/tonnefor nickel).
The Company’s new R&D pursuits radically differfrom other technical groups’ attempts to commercialize pyrrhotitetails treatment that have traditionally focussed on reducing the cost of nickel recovery to create favourableeconomics. Alternatively, BacTech has been pursuing a scientific pathto develop an innovative zero-carbon liberationand extraction approach to separating iron from its ore, in additionto optimizing nickel-cobalt recovery efforts. Furthermore, an upgradedsiliceous residue from bioleaching may be used to produce zero-carbonconstruction materials incorporating geopolymer technology. BacTechbelieves its method answers a need raised by theCanadian government and others toaccelerate the sustainable extraction and processing of criticalminerals from existing mine tailings and invest in domestic EV batteryproduction.
“Global demands for green steel and EV battery metalshave simply skyrocketed 1 , as have the calls for mining operations andmanufacturers to cut carbon emissions,” said Ross Orr, President,and CEO of BacTech. “BacTech is positioned to capitalize on thesustainable resource demand, where we believe our bioleachingsolutions can help deliver what many others simply cannot – greater environmental responsibilityacross the mining and resource sectors thatsupports increased production in a wide variety of commercialapplications. Our world-class scientific and advisory team, whichincludes Dr. Paul C. Miller and Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, all maintain key industry andgovernment relationships so that we fully understand stakeholderchallenges and what’s required to introduce bioleaching tolarge-scale engineering environments.”
Recognizing that sustainable iron and sulphur valuemanagement , in addition to nickel-cobalt,represents a far greater overall economic opportunity with strongdemand, BacTech’s bioleaching process for pyrrhotite tails treatmentis believed to offer a number of advantages:
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Production of an elemental sulphur as a saleablecommodity;
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Production of a nickel cobalt mixed precipitate ornickel cobalt metals;
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Conversion of iron after bioleaching (now separatedfrom sulphur) into an intermediary for green-steel production;
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Production of construction materials from wastebioleach residues using geopolymers;
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Use of membrane technology for more effectivemanagement of acid balance to reduce the requirements for acidneutralisation and waste gypsum production;
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Process versatility to manage variations in pyrrhotitefeedstocks; and
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Solutions to environmental challenges and mining siteremediation efforts.
“Our aim is to dovetail our proven bioleachingtechnology with other advanced areas of metallurgical separation andrecovery, ultimately improving project economics and creatingsustainable products from waste materials, while still meeting allremediation objectives,” said Dr. Paul C.Miller, BacTech Vice President, Technology & Engineering. “Overtwo decades ago BacTech Australia itselfoperated a continuous pilot plant demonstrating the technicalviability of applying bioleaching for pyrrhotite treatment, but alsoshowed that the process economics and singular focus on nickel wereunfavourable at that time. Our focus has now shifted to bettermanaging the iron and sulphur values of such feedstocks whichrepresent the major stream flows and costs in a process normallyreported as wastes. Clearly, the world has changed to embrace bothcarbon reduction and an increased need for critical minerals. BacTechnow sees the whole playing field and the potential to recover multipleresources from existing pyrrhotite tailings.”
A program to optimize research and development will beplanned over the next year to further advance the concept and todetail the technical and economic aspects of the process towardscommercialization.
Aboutthe Tenguel – Ponce Enriquez Bioleaching Project
BacTech is planning to build a new owner-operatedbioleaching facility in Tenguel, near Ponce Enriquez, Ecuador, in aregion where arsenic is associated with gold ore (Arsenopyrite). TheCompany’s plan is to build a 50 tpd bioleach plant capable oftreating high gold/arsenic material. A 50 tpd plant, processing feedof 1.75 ounces of gold per tonne, similar to feeds available to theCompany from local miners, would produce approximately 31,000 ouncesper year. Plant designs are modular and can be expanded withoutaffecting ongoing production. The total concentrate market in thePonce Enriquez area is estimated to be between 200 and 250 tonnes perday, allowing for increased throughput potential with a largerplant.
Key economic highlights:
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Pre-tax NPV (Net Present Value with 5% discount rate)of $60.7M
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Pre-tax IRR (Internal Rate of Return) of 57.9%
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Annual Gold Production of 30, 900 ounces
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Capital Cost of $17M
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Bioleach Operating Cost of $212 per tonne
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Assumed Purchase Prices of Concentrate – 65% of thecontained gold value
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Pre-tax Earnings Prior to Employee Bonus – $10.9Mannually
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Estimated local employee bonus pool – $1.64M
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Payback (70% DEBT) – 2 years
In total, there are over 90 small mines operating inthe area. BacTech intends to return local miner compensation back toprevious payment levels, prior to a sweeping price reduction imposedby Chinese buyers due to recent import levies on arsenic/goldconcentrates entering China. BacTech continues to investigate theprospects of establishing additional modern bioleaching facilitiesacross other areas of Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Where possible, theCompany will partner with national and local governments,non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others to assist with thefunding of these projects and ensure that they meet the Company’shigh expectations not only for environmental standards, but also forthe highest standards in all ESG considerations.
About BacTech EnvironmentalCorporation
BacTech is a proven environmental technology company,delivering effective and eco-friendly bioleaching and remediationsolutions to commercial operations to process and recover preferredmetals (gold, silver, cobalt, and copper) smartly and safely removeand transform harmful contaminants like arsenic into benignEPA-approved products for landfill. Tapping into numerousenvironmental and economic advantages of its proprietary method ofbioleaching, BacTech uses naturally occurring bacteria, harmless toboth humans and the environment, to neutralize toxic mining sites withhigh-pay potential. BacTech is publicly traded on the CSE under thesymbol “BAC”; on the OTC as “BCCEF”; and the Frankfurt StockExchange as “0BT1”.
For further information contact:
President & CEO, BacTech Environmental Corporation
416-813-0303 ext. 222,
Email: borr@bactechgreen.com
Website: https://bactechgreen.com/
Investor Presentation: https://bactechgreen.com/investors/
Vimeo http://vimeo.com/bactechgreen
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-lookinginformation”, which may include, but is not limited to, statementswith respect to future tailings sites, sampling or otherinvestigations of tailing sites, the Company’sability to make use of infrastructure around tailings sites oroperating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but notalways, forward-looking statements can be identified using words suchas “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”,“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”,“anticipates”, or believes” or variations (including negativevariations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions,events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or“will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statementsinvolve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors whichmay cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of theCompany to be materially different from any future results,performance or achievements expressed or implied by theforward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements containedherein are made as of the date of this news release and the Companydisclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update anyforward-looking statements whether because of new information,results, future events, circumstances, or if management’s estimatesor opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurancethat forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actualresults and future events could differ materially from thoseanticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautionednot to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Shares outstanding:163,805,558
The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewedand does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy ofthe contents of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sellor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the shares, nor is it asolicitation of interest from a prospective investor.
Sources:
2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892687510002827
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