Media Alert. A Current Affair tonight ECT interviewed, page-133

Below are some ECT ann quotes we are waiting for the outcome of. ECT say the LV feasibility study started July & would be "aimed" to be finished the same quarter. So end of Sept....then I guess allow who knows how long for it to be released.

But for the FS to be released, ECT make it clear the results of the conditioning system are essential.
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March 28 Ann

"Uncovering New Opportunities for Drying System Optimisation

During dry commissioning, a potential process efficiency gain was identified in the conditioning system.

This opportunity centres on the potential of the new, five-pass conditioning system and direct supply to the planned downstream “phase 2” pyrolysis kiln. This would produce significant CAPEX and OPEX savings across Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the current demonstration project and for the planned Latrobe Valley project.

The engineering team has modelled the conditioning system’s likely performance and the current
estimations indicate a significant efficiency improvement and potential for greater moisture reduction prior
to transfer to the Packed Bed Dryer (PBD).

The materiality of this improvement warrants increased commissioning focus and development activity, and
may represent a significant capital and operational cost-saving opportunity for downstream applications, including:

 Reduced size or increased throughput of the PDB
 Direct feed from the conditioning system into the Phase 2 pyrolysis stage (thus potentially bypassing
the PBD stage (see Diagram 2 below)
 Reduced energy consumption of the overall system leading to improved operational costs
 Accelerated implementation of Phase 2 (see recent Corporate Presentation) ahead of finalising the
COLDry-PBD stage
 Reduced CAPEX for the proposed Latrobe Valley project.

Group Engineer, Ashley Moore commented:

“The engineering, research and project management teams have developed a deep understanding of
low temperature drying, substrate plasticisation and densification, and the COLDry demonstration project represents the culmination of that knowledge and experience in action. Phase 1 of the Project has seen significant advancements to the milling, mixing, extruding and, most notably, the conditioning of the pellets, which targets performance improvements of 3-10x better than the previous pilot-scale design.”


Managing Director, Glenn Fozard commented:

“The target here is to define the efficiency gains so that we can further refine the capital estimates
for our Latrobe Valley project. When you consider that the PBD represents ~30% of the footprint of the COLDry plant and up to 40% of the capital expenditure, it’s critical to consider how we can reduce the need for this step in the process. The commercial benefits would be substantial if we can direct-feed COLDry processed pellets from the conditioning system into a pyrolysis unit. Confirming and
quantifying this opportunity will be the focus of our efforts over the coming weeks.”
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July 29 Ann

"As outlined in the previous quarterly report, the engineering team has identified significant potential process efficiency gains which centre on a new, five-pass conditioning system. If confirmed, the efficiency gain would produce substantial CAPEX and OPEX savings across Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Bacchus Marsh Project and flow-on benefits for the planned Latrobe Valley project.

Therefore, the next step in wet commissioning will be a series of experimental commissioning runs entailing lignite run through the primary processing system to the conditioning system to ascertain the drying performance profile. Key conditioning system variables will be monitored, generating the required data necessary to validate the potential efficiency gains and complete Phase 1 commissioning, providing the pathway for integration with Phase 2 activities as they progress in the coming months."

"Advisory firm Grant Thornton was engaged to support ECT in developing a full feasibility package for the Latrobe Valley Project. This work will start by the end of July and aims to be completed by the end of that same quarter."
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Sept 20 Ann

"The R&D objectives of the project include:

● Completing scale up from COLDry pilot scale including:

- incorporating a fully bespoke 5-pass conditioning system; construction 95% complete (status: commissioning underway);
- incorporation of a higher capacity primary processing train (status: construction complete, wet commissioning and system programming underway);
- incorporating packed bed dryer capacity and efficiency redesigns (status: on hold pending the outcome of primary processing and conditioning system commissioning to finalise design parameters)"

"The feasibility study is ongoing, with the outcomes of the COLDry demonstration project at Bacchus Marsh intended to inform the engineering, investment decision and timeframe of the Yallourn project."
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To me it sounds like the PBD will at least be scaled down or hopefully eliminated. Considering the PBD is
"~30% of the footprint of the COLDry plant and up to 40% of the capital expenditure".... it's obviously going to be big news either way imo.

We are due for news on both the new conditioning system & FS. Can't be far away. All imo.

tick tock ...