I guess they're saying that QPM has proven the process flow sheet, with in this case the specifics of New Caledonia ore. Sure, bench/pilot stuff, but it works.
@MarkHGO, there is no mention on the Altilium website as A4N being partners. Alpha HPA list theirs as a 'worlds first' ' proprietary' process.
They use Rio Tinto feedstock (bauxite?) rather than nickel-rich ore, then mix in Orica reagents/solvents (
presumably nitric acid) to get to Al3+.
QPM (Lava Blue) use either the raw NC nickel-rich ore, or Al(OH)3 feedstock. Our ASX announcement of 02/12/2021 notes "
Lava Blue’s technology is based around the conventional hydrocloric acid leach, which was the base case for QPM. The technology centres around the ability to deal with trace impurities, process control, and demonstration plant confirmation of designs."
So to my basic chemistry, appears to be similar process, but each has they proprietary tweaks.
(20min delay)