Orocobre subsidiary Borax Argentina has developed a new chemical product and earlier this month made the first shipment of boric acid HPN (High Purity Nuclear) Grade to a customer in Brazil. Boric acid HPN is a new refined chemical product developed by Borax Argentina over the last six months with characteristics of high purity (greater than 99.9%) and low levels of key impurities such as iron, sodium, chlorine, sulphur. Heavy metal levels are less than 1 ppm. The high boric acid content and low impurity levels makes the product suitable for use in nuclear power plants. Boric acid is used in nuclear power plants to slow down the rate at which fission is occurring.
The development of this new product reinforces the inherent flexibility in the Borax Argentina operation and highlights the ability of the business to produce new specialist high specification products for high value niche markets. Boric acid HPN will form an integral part of the product portfolio as Borax Argentina becomes more geographically diverse by growing its presence in key international markets. This follows on from the recent development of a high grade hydroboracite product for the agriculture market. Richard Seville, Managing Director of Orocobre said “this is another great example of innovation by the Borax Argentina business and fits with our strategy to expand sales into new markets and new geographical regions”.
Orocobre, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange, is building a substantial Argentinian-based industrial minerals company through the construction and operation of its portfolio of lithium, potash and boron projects and facilities in the Puna region of northern Argentina. It is building in partnership with Toyota Tsusho Corp the first large–scale, greenfield brine based lithium project in 20 years at its flagship Salar de Olaroz resource, with projected production of 17,500 t/y of low-cost battery grade lithium carbonate scheduled to commence in Q2 2014. The company also wholly-owns Borax Argentina, an important regional borate producer.