Tag Archives: DSO

Macarthur Minerals to explore use of LAVO hydrogen battery tech at Lake Giles

Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Macarthur Minerals Ltd has signed a strategic partnership and collaboration agreement with LAVO Hydrogen Technology Holding that could see the mine developer use LAVO’s hydrogen energy battery system on site at its flagship Lake Giles Iron project in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia.

The agreement will see the companies investigate the facilitation of a staged technology solution that is intended to deliver a clear carbon reduction strategy for Lake Giles, with a first phased roll-out to support Macarthur’s intended early hematite direct shipment ore (DSO) mining operations at Ularring.

LAVO uses an innovative, patented metal hydride to produce hydrogen energy batteries. The battery system acts as a solar sponge, integrating with solar arrays to capture and store renewable energy for use when needed. The unit creates hydrogen from water, stores the hydrogen into LAVO’s patented metal hydride and generates electricity by converting hydrogen into power, according to the companies.

LAVO’s cornerstone investors are ESG investment firm Providence Asset Group (PAG) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Together with UNSW, PAG established the Hydrogen Energy Research Centre (HERC). HERC is a leading university-industry partnership in hydrogen technologies with a main purpose of translating the university’s leading research in hydrogen production, storage and use into real world commercial products under the brand name ‘LAVO’.

Under the agreement, the first phase of collaboration is expected to involve Macarthur being assigned between three to five patented LAVO 40 kWh hydrogen storage units for integration into the remote worker accommodation facilities, which are planned to be constructed to support a DSO mining operation at Ularring.

Subject to successful project definition and satisfactory supporting economics being assessed, the LAVO hydrogen storage units could be installed on site at Ularring as early as the December quarter of this year.

If the trial program at Ularring is successful, then Macarthur and LAVO intend to examine opportunities to develop a fully localised micro-grid engineering solution that includes a solar photovoltaic array, a centralised hydrogen hydride containerised storage system and appropriately sized fuel cell to support the energy requirements for Macarthur’s planned high grade magnetite iron ore mine at Lake Giles, following successful delivery of the company’s current feasibility study. This could involve the integration of larger, containerised ‘HEOS’ hydrogen energy batteries with up to 13 MWh of capacity (currently being developed by LAVO), potentially delivering energy to Macarthur’s magnetite operations at a commercial scale.

Alan Yu, CEO of LAVO, said: “Macarthur Mineral’s pursuit to decarbonise mining and provide resources for green steel production is market leadership and an endeavour that LAVO is excited to be involved with. We are demonstrating our LAVO hydrogen hydride technology has practical, environmental and economically viable applications that extend from residential to significant mining projects.

“The potential for energy independence in the mining sector will reduce costly capital works and leverage the current transport gateways to drive profitable growth and improve environmental impacts.”

Andrew Bruton, CEO of Macarthur Minerals, said: “Macarthur is pleased to be partnering with LAVO on this ground-breaking initiative. Macarthur plans to roll-out integration of LAVO hydrogen storage units at Ularring to support intended early DSO hematite mining operations.

“This collaboration is also aimed at enabling Macarthur to achieve a clear carbon reduction strategy for its planned future magnetite operations at Moonshine, as it can allow for potential integration with magnetite processing on a modularised and gradual ‘scale up’ basis over a target five-to-10-year time horizon.”

He added: “By adopting this staged approach and becoming an ‘early follower’, rather than a ‘first adopter’, Macarthur will have the opportunity to contain technology, capital and pricing risk so as to ensure that it achieves the lowest possible levelised cost of energy delivery for its magnetite processing.”

Shaw Contracting returns to Riley iron ore project

Mineral exploration, Mineral project development, Mining project news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , ,

Venture Minerals’ plan to restart mining at the Riley iron ore project in Tasmania, Australia, is accelerating with the announcement that the ASX-listed company has awarded Shaw Contracting the preferred tenderer status for mining and processing works at the operation.

One of Tasmania’s most experienced civil and mining contractors, Shaw previously worked with Venture when it commenced mining the Riley iron ore deposit, in 2014. The company also carried out several major overburden and mining contracts for Savage River Mines (pictured) and Bluestone Mine in Tasmania.

The Riley project is on a granted mining lease, where reserves of 1.8 Mt at 57% Fe with low impurities have been outlined. Venture says around 90% of the equipment previously purchased for mining the orebody is still on hand and there is potential for producing a direct shipping ore product. The deposit is also all at surface, Venture says, and is less than 2 km from a sealed road that accesses existing rail and port facilities.

Venture has had the former operating mine on care and maintenance since August 2014 shortly after it suspended operations.

The company says it continues to work on updating the previous feasibility study at Riley so a decision to recommence mining can be made at the earliest opportunity. Following a favourable study outcome, its goal is to commence iron ore production in the December quarter of this year.

On the contract award to Shaw, Venture said: “In the awarding of preferred tenderer status to Shaw, Venture did receive strong interest from other service providers in relation to the mining and processing tender packages sought by the company. Venture is now well progressed in the process of collating this and other necessary information to form a robust view of potential project economics as it finalises the Decision to Mine study.”

The company has already undertaken extensive pre-production works at the Riley project to recommence operations, making the project a ‘quick to market’ opportunity for the company, it said.

Venture’s Managing Director, Andrew Radonjic, said: “Venture is glad to welcome back the experience and knowledge of Shaw Contracting to the Riley iron ore project. The advantages of getting Shaw to pick up from where they left off will be a huge advantage to the recommencement timeline of the mine.”