Silica Sand in demand , Japan active, Article from the Australian

With rival Japanese trading house Mitsubishi already operating its own silica sand mine at Cape Flattery, the new Japanese interest appears timely as Diatreme eyes launching near-term production of this critical mineral.

Diatreme chief executive Neil McIntyre (illustrated) says Mitsui’s support is an enormous vote of confidence in the future of the company’s Queensland silica sand projects.

Diatreme earlier this year took over rival Metallica following a hostile takeover, giving it additional control of a large tract of silica sand reserves at Cape Flattery.

“Mitsui & Co. is a global organisation with access to markets worldwide and with an enormous depth and range of resources,” says McIntyre. “Having the support of such a blue-chip company is hugely encouraging for Diatreme as we work to develop our low iron, high purity silica projects to help power the global solar energy boom.”

The Land of the Rising Sun is eyeing Queensland’s silica sands, with Brisbane-based Diatreme Resources inking an agreement with blue-chip Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Tokyo-based Mitsui will negotiate with Diatreme on potential offtake from its projects near Cape Flattery in Far North Queensland.

The agreement follows Diatreme’s previous offtake deal with China’s Flat Glass Group and its strategic partnership with European-based Sibelco.

For Diatreme, the Japan tie-up should help unlock Mitsui’s global networks, ensuring its low iron, high purity product used in solar panels finds more markets abroad.

Solar is powering renewables growth worldwide, with solar PV set to account for 80 per cent of new renewable capacity added globally through to 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.