Kincella has already made the point but let me add a few thoughts.
As you might have noticed, I have been following JRV for some time. Following Friday's announcement I have done a fair bit of research on Intec's web-site. I am way out of my depth technically but I think the answers to some of your concerns are to be found there.
A few misconceptions I may be able to help you with as a result of my research.
Thanks Skully, by the way, for the update on JRV's chloride leach process.
First proposition: INL doesn't have the money to be helpful. Well, according to their recent announcements, they are likely to have about $25 million free cashflow per annum from their operations for the foreseeable future (leaving aside any other new income streams they have hinted at). This would be more than enough to fund extensive work on the remaining challenges in the JRV process which you have identified AND to run a demonstration plant to prove it up at scale.
Second proposition: INL does not have a nickel laterite process. Well it does, according to their web-site; they don't seem to be is saying it is complete or that they have demonstrated it at scale but there is a version of the INL process which is applicable to Nickel laterites. Have a look at the web-site:
That should take you to a link to a presentation given in 2005 on the process (a bit scientific but it looks pretty credible to me)...I think this presentation was given before Intec built and commissioned its own demo plant in Burnie, Tasmania. You might like to consider the possiblitity that INL would be a valuable party to progress IVN's project for, amongst others, the following reasons:
1. Intec is (in its own words!) a world leader in chloride based hydro-metallurgy which I note is the medium of the Canadian process which JRV have been pursuing.
2. Intec's achievements in chloride based hydro-metallurgy recently received international recognition when they received the 2005 Technology of the Year Award presented at the “Excellence in Exploration and Mining 2005” conference - see the following link on their web site.
3. Intec has a highly skilled staff which specializes in chloride based hydro-metallurgy and a fully operational demonstration plant in Burnie, Tasmania conveniently located over the road from Ammtec's world-class laboratories with which Intec has a close relationship.
4. Regardless of whether it was decided to pursue JRV's process or Intec's nickel laterite process, the Burnie plant looks to me like (and I stress I am not a technical person and this is not technical advice (DYOR as people are fond of saying)) it could easily be re-configured to prove up the JRV technology. I imagine it would only require modest re-configuration for the Intec Nickel Laterite process (because it has already been used for the Intec Zinc Process) but I don't see why a big part of the plant couldn't also be used for the JRV process.
Seems to me we are talking very similar technology...chloride based hydro-metallurgy.
Surely many of the components (leach tanks, purification tanks, filters, process control instrumentation and the very substantial building itself) would all be able to be utilised. And Intec have an experienced and skilled staff available to run it. In their announcement last Friday Intec specifically mention the demo plant so they must think it is applicable:
5. The cost savings for JRV's project would be enormous as they would not have to build a building or the basic plant and there would also be enormous time savings ...and time is money.
6. I infer from an announcement I have seen from JRV that they are talking about extracting about 10 tonnes of ore at Young for testing. This sort of quantity would only be applicable to a tiny plant which would not be acceptable for a feasibility study, whereas Intec's demo plant at Burnie would be. JRV have already said they don't have the money or the facilities and to start without any infrastructure or staff would be much more expensive and much slower than proceeding with a proven performer (in the very field of chloride based hydro-metallurgy) and its existing facilities.
Summary
So with the cash flow to do it and a demonstration plant and trained staff which would facilitate doing it cheaply and quickly, INL is well-placed to make a contribution, perhaps a very big contribution, to JRV's nickel prospects.
Any further thoughts?
JRV Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Not Held
(20min delay)