general discussion, page-2169

Good pickup Goosey, thank you for posting. Interesting to hear DP talk about funding for Stage 2, especially Federal government involvement. To my knowledge, the only government support we have received so far is a $1 million regional development fund grant from the state government of which half has been paid. It looks as if the financial path will be a lot smoother once we get our feet out of the wet cement of Stage 1! If we do run short of money before Stage 1 is finished, I think a strong case could be mounted for further government assistance for it too as it is an essential tool for the final design for Stage 2 and a vital R&D asset for the optimal treatment of the ferro slag in Stage 3.
I understand from my visit to the site in June that the components for the remainder of Stage 1 have been acquired (although they may not have been fully paid for yet) and their assembly is much simpler than for the patented hydromet section already working. If supply of money and labour are adequate, staff on site expect the work to take about three months and the behaviour of the plant is pretty much guaranteed as the briquetting plant and reduction furnace are standard items; so we may yet see our first ingot by Christmas. It would easily fit down our chimney...