Ann: Altech - HPA Market Update Lithium-ion Battery Sector, page-47

HPA has always been able to be produced from aluminium. The problem is the cost of production. It's about three times as expensive to produce it for the old method i.e. taking aluminium into solution and reprecipitating it as a 99.999% pure oxide.

Our method which is the disrupting technology avoids that step. We start with low iron kaloin. The calcining (heating it in a kiln) step is to convert it to the Alpha (α) Al2O3 the useable/ desired form or phase. There's a leach stage and reaction with some chemicals to refine further and precipitate out impurities but small amounts so not costly. Then filter and smelt into those boluses for LCD or microninse (air grind) to fine powder for Battery separators.

The point difference to that other project supposed to disrupt us is they reckon they already have high purity in sol'n form readily available lab chemicals.

In manufacturing high purity aluminium (the metal) Hydro may make some savings but they're still going to be way less profitable due to the leacing all the Al into solution step.