Hi manila. Just found some time to do some reading. The BHP trial is heap acid leaching whereas Torrens are trialling cyanide leaching so different chemical processes. But it's still encouraging news anyway from what I'm reading for the following reasons:
1. BHP are forecasting ongoing and growing demand for copper to wire expanded electricity grids, particularly in China which will be aided by the massive expansion in renewable energy generation they have commenced
2. BHP are slating full trials from 2016 to 2019 with possible production from the method from maybe 2020. They are hoping it will help them expand Olympic Dam which would bring significant new production into the market. HOWEVER in that time frame if Torrens are right we will already have production up and running and selling.
3. Torrens' processes work in short time frames, in hours in the lab tests. Heap acid leaching takes in the hundreds of days. Heap would suit BHPs scale but they'd probably prefer the time frame of Torrens' method!
It just may be that the recovery challenges of the MG14/Windabout metallurgy end up being an asset thanks to Torrens' lateral thinking. Fingers crossed!
GUN Price at posting:
1.2¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
