I am no expert on slurry pipe lines but there are a few issues with these statements anyone who has done a little bit of research can spot.
First of all HIO has clearly stated they have a viable water source and this is mentioned in the PFS. The process of getting water and using it to pump the slurry to Broken Hill (where it will be dried and transported by rail to port) is incorporated in this same PFS, as are the costs!
The second thing to note is that the Hawsons project is quite a bit closer to Broken Hill then the Razorback ridge project to any port (well over twice the distance).
And I have no idea how much water would be needed to pump one ton of 70% concentrate, and I don't know if the water source would require desalination (not sure what his oxygen remarks are about but would assume the pipe will be mostly air tight, the soil isn't so the magenetite has been exposed to oxygen for millions of years, so not a problem!) However it seems easy enough to recycle most of the liquid from the slurry and pump it back (via a much smaller pipe, it is just water after all) to the mine and reuse it. This water obviously wouldn't need to be desalination again.
An other point to realize is that we will be producing 70% IO concentrate. About as expensive as it gets. So even if we have to spend a couple of extra dollars per ton on water, the projected margins are so huge this s very unlikely to become an issue IMO.
But if you do some deeper research into the matter that would be great . An update on any information or issues you find would be appreciated.
HIO Price at posting:
18.5¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
