wall? what wall?, page-25

Hi Lanek

Thanks for that reply. I can see where you are coming from, being asked an opinion on investing in APG. Just in case you haven't packed up the tent quite yet.

"2. I believe the current process is dependent on the raw material suppliers (of spent pickling liquors and mill scale) to send their materials PLUS a cheque to APG. That is, those materials have a negative value due probably to the current need to land fill/treat for disposal. Therefore the whole process swings on this $ input from the raw material suppliers. The process will not work for mineral sand beneficiation and will not apply to many parts of the world where waste disposal costs are low."

Yes, the current plan would most likely be a toll treatment operation. Customer pays transport plus a fee, probably based on the value of the products returned to the customer, or APG might get to sell the iron briquettes in return for treatment of the acid or some combination of both.
This setup is only for the Newcastle plant. The main game is setting up treatment plants at steel mills, so the mill gets the value of the mill scale otherwise lost, as well as regenerating the acid on site. That is why it should work worldwide regardless of waste disposal costs as the products are valuable and represent a cost saving over even dumping the whole lot at the vacant land adjacent to the mill.
The whole process of acid regen and iron briquettes (EARS and DRI) came out of the EARMS SR process, which is the benefication of ilmanite into synrutile, so it isn't correct to say that the process won't work for mineral sand benefication.

". I am a humble metallurgist with 40 years experience and, unfortunately, seen too many of these good ideas without financial viability wash around for too long before dying."

All too true. APG may have been one of those too, had Kronos not come onto the scene. That is a huge stamp of approval IMO. Still have no idea why at this stage its SP is where it is though!!!!

Thanks for the chat, cheers