QPM General Discussion Thread, page-238

Good Q @wilbur79, and I should have mentioned parallel works in general that assist in keeping project timelines on schedule.

The last quarterly, so Jan-Mar22 progress, has:

• Mill equipment - Prior to leaching, the ore is also required to be dried and the oversize fraction milled to the appropriate sizing. QPM is working with Metso Outotec on this front end equipment. A 2 tonne bulk sample from New Caledonia has been transported to Metso Outotec’s USA operations and tested to determine fundamental engineering properties. The goal of this work is to optimise the front end design of the plant and minimise capital expenditure
• Thermal decomposition using a Fluid Bed Reactor - QPM is working with Hatch Pyrometallurgy Group on the design and supply of Fluid Bed Reactors for the TECH Project. QPM is undertaking piloting of Fluid Bed Reactors in conjunction with Hatch Pyrometallurgy and Roundhill
  Engineering in Glen Innes, NSW.
• Testwork in conjunction with its HPA partners Lava Blue. Produced purity almost at 5N level - 99.996%
• Working backwards from FID looking from a financiers perspective - During the quarter, QPM engaged internationally renowned nickel laterite processing expert Mark Benz and a senior processing expert within Hatch, Ian Skepper, to undertake a strategic review of the DFS. The conclusion of this review was that the direction QPM is taking with regards to the DFS, associated testwork program and execution strategy is the right pathway to achieve final investment decision. The nature of the review undertaken is more thorough than which an Independent Technical Expert would undertake for a banking syndicate. Therefore, this process has helped position QPM well for upcoming due diligence of financiers.

So while the technical studies are woven together, solid proactive progress is being made looking downstream and also inwards to further ensure the DFS is bullet proof, and so keep the financing portion of pre-start as short as possible.