the final 30 minutes, page-32

re: taa Since we seem to have some experts here i was wondering if anyone has any comments about the technology currently being developed by TAA in conjunction with Boston University. They are currently undertaking a feasibility study into the development of a pilot plant in WA. For those not familiar with the company if added some comapny annoucnements.

Cheers

TAA SECURES GLOBAL RIGHTS FOR TITANIUM AND MAGNESIUM
METAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Tantalum Australia NL (ASX: TAA) has laid the foundations for a future major expansion of
its rare metals business, by today acquiring the worldwide exclusive rights to the solid
oxygen-ion-conducting membranes processing technology (“SOM”) for titanium and
magnesium metal production.
The Perth-based Company has reached agreement with Boston University to acquire an
option over the world rights to the process for titanium and magnesium. The total annual
global market for both these metals exceeds US$1.6 billion pa. (Titanium US $550 million pa
and Magnesium US$1.1 billion pa) This adds to the existing SOM rights held by TAA to
Tantalum, niobium, nickel, tungsten and four other rare metals.
This novel process, developed initially at MIT, uses SOM to directly extract (synthesize) the
metal from oxide and/or concentrate form.
In work done to date on tantalum, it has achieved yields of up to 100% compared with yields
of just 70% in the existing tantalum refinery process. TAA and Boston University expect that
significant capital and operating cost savings can be achieved compared to existing plants.
Due to the outstanding success of the R&D in Phase I for tantalum and the potential to apply
the Intellectual Property (IP) developed in that R&D across other metals, TAA has acquired
an option over the rights to titanium and magnesium. TAA will be able to exploit synergies
and cost savings in undertaking R&D across the suite of metals it controls. The SOM process
has already been proven in a Phase I R&D program by Boston University in synthesizing
magnesium metal from magnesium oxide and tantalum metal from both tantalum oxide and
concentrates.
Importantly given the success in the tantalum R&D program of synthesizing metal from
concentrates, the Titanium and Magnesium R&D will use oxides however it will focus on
using concentrates (titanium) and calcined dolomite (magnesium) as feedstock.
TAA has been encouraged to secure the option over the rights to these metals by a major user
of these metals. Discussions are proceeding with this interested party on the possibility of
developing a strategic relationship. The existing processing technologies particularly for
titanium are over 40 years old and a new green, energy and cost efficient process would have
a major competitive advantage over these out dated processes.
TAA and Boston University have developed the next Phase of the R&D program for
Tantalum, Titanium and Magnesium that is planned to commence in early 2004. Success in
these programs could lead to the establishment of a semi-commercial pilot facility in Western
Australia within three years. As part of the next Phase of R&D the cost advantages will be
more closely defined
The SOM process has been developed by Professor Uday Pal and colleagues at the Boston
University’s Department of Manufacturing Engineering in the United States. Professor Pal
will lead the TAA R&D Program.
The Option fee is US$35,000 payable on execution of the Option Agreement. If the planned
next Phase of the R&D is successful, this could lead to the addition of these metals to the
existing License Agreement TAA has with Boston University to achieve full
commercialisation of the technology.
Acquisition of the global rights to Titanium and Magnesium will expand TAA’s opportunity
to be producing not only low-cost tantalum metal but also titanium and magnesium within 3-5
years.
Boston University, the USA’s 4th largest independent university, is internationally recognized
as one of the world’s premier research universities, and has hundreds of millions of dollars pa
in research grants.
For further information on this Release please contact either Mr Michael Fotios Managing
Director 08 62411888 or Imants Kins Manager Business Development 08 6241 1806.

By ASX Online
Dear Sir
BOSTON UNIVERSITY- FINAL RESULTS STAGE I SOM R&D PROJECT - HIGH PURITY
METAL PRODUCED FROM CONCENTRATES
Tantalum Australia NL previously announced on the 18 August 2003 that Boston University (BU)
had been successful in extracting tantalum metal from tantalum concentrates utilising the Solid
Oxygen-ion-conduction Membrane (SOM) process. The final results from the Stage I of the R&D
program have been received and confirm a high purity metal product has been produced from
concentrate. Whilst the technology is significant with respect to tantalum the Company also has the
licensing rights to other metals including niobium and nickel.
The significant results of the test work on concentrate include;
Metal produced that has less than 1% metallic impurities – will satisfy most alloy
manufacturers specification;
Metallic yield of greater than 90% - significant improvement on existing processes that
average 80-85%; and
Oxygen content in the metal product is negligible (undetectable) – highly desirable for
alloy manufacturers – reduces processing costs.
The success of the SOM process has demonstrated that several processing steps on the existing
conventional refining process can be eliminated. This leads to a significant reduction in the cost of
production, major improvement in energy efficiency and the elimination of hazardous and non
hazardous waste products. The successful achievement of major cost reductions by the SOM
process is of great interest to potential partners.
BU has recommended proceeding to the Stage II program designed to produce 0.5 to 1 kg of metal
product per SOM run. Stage 2 will commence during November and will effectively be a feasibility
study into the development of a pilot plant to be constructed in Western Australia during Stage III.
A meeting with the research team will be held at BU on 16 October 2003 to review the Stage I
results, finalise the Stage II program and agree the detailed multi patent strategy for the significant
intellectual property developed during Stage I. Significant interest has been shown in the
technology by third parties and discussions with potential partners both technical and financial are
ongoing.
Yours faithfully
Michael Fotios
Managing Director