Project development carried out at the GSAe processing facility to prove process to recover vanadium, molybdenum and nickel from different refinery residues. The development work was to support funding activities by providing process information and a reference operation.
Two trains each of approximately 800 tonnes catalyst which is reloaded annually. The design feed contains 40.6 ppm nickel and 126.4 ppm vanadium and as such, the catalyst (both trains combined) will acquire 420 tonnes of vanadium per year (equivalent to 740 tonnes per year of vanadium pentoxide) and 120 tonnes of nickel. The spent catalyst contains approximately 10% carbon and is pyrophoric. The fresh catalyst contains approximately 80 tonnes of molybdenum and an additional 50 tonnes of nickel.
Nickel and vanadium must be controlled at less than 10,000 ppm so there will typically be 20 tonnes per day make up. The feed will contain 8.7 ppm vanadium and 5.9 ppm nickel. The catalyst will acquire 40 tonnes per year vanadium (equivalent to 71 tonnes per year of vanadium pentoxide) and 108 tonnes nickel.
Financials
| Total Metals Available | Sales Revenue |
|---|---|
| V2O5 821 tonnes ($7/lb*) | $12.4 million |
| Ni 278 tonnes ($20,000 / tonne*) | $5.5 million |
| Mo 80 tonnes ($17/lb*) | $3.0 million |
| Total: | $20.4 million |
*current London Metal Exchange and London Metal Bulletin prices.
| Capital Cost Esimate | $20 million |
| Operating Cost Esimate | $3 - $5 million |
| IRR | 64% |
| Payback | <2 years of operation |