TVI starts plant testing for nickel project in Agusan

TVI Pacific said it had started pilot plant testing at the Agata nickel processing project in Agusan del Norte following recent tests that showed 94 percent extraction rate of nickel from ores.

The Canada-based firm said the test would further define the technological parameters to be used in producing a bankable feasibility study in preparation for a commercial processing plant.

Tests for the pilot plant came following the release of the results of a small-scale testing of materials, methods or chemical processes carried out at Agata.

“We are extremely pleased with the results achieved,” said Cliff James, TVI Pacific chair and chief executive. “The process being developed could position the proposed Agata nickel processing plant among lower cost producers.”

Results confirmed that the Agata ore could yield high amounts of nickel with low amounts of acid used.

The company said it was developing a technology for maximum nickel recovery and low acid consumption, which would translate into increased metal production and lower operating costs.

The pilot plant test is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year.

On a similar project, Sumitomo Metal Mining earlier announced plans to test a newly developed technology that would recover iron ore from nickel-cobalt mine tailings from the Taganito project in Surigao del Norte.

The Tokyo-based company owns 62.5 percent of Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp., which intends to start production of nickel-cobalt mixed sulfides in the fourth quarter this year.

In a statement, Sumitomo said it succeeded in raising the grade of the iron in the nickel-cobalt tailing—formed as hematite—to 60 percent, which is equivalent to normal iron ore. Hematite is mainly used as input in producing iron and steel.

Sumitomo added that without the new technology, the grade of the by-product hematite is too low and ranges at 30 percent to 40 percent iron.

Thus, Sumitomo wants to test the commercial viability of the technology through a planned pilot plant that will be built at the Taganito project.