Economic
Loop Hydrometallurgy was an active participant in the Think & Act Differently “Ingenious Extraction” challenge in 2021. As part of that challenge, OZ Minerals engaged an independent expert to model the cost of the Halion Loop™ for the processing of the conventional copper concentrate from the Carrapateena copper mine in South Australia.
That independent expert returned a cost of US$0.18/lb Cu to process the concentrate into high purity metal.
Subsequent studies have identified major additional opportunities to unlock value from copper concentrates. Most particularly, it has been shown that the Halion Loop™ can produce copper metal at site for less than the cost of producing conventional copper concentrate.
Low Grade / Rougher Concentrate Example
This desktop study showed that by processing a lower-grade concentrate (such as rougher con), the site could save around $0.58/lb Cu.
That is a saving of up to US$95 million per annum for the site, before by-product credits.
Polymetallic / Low-Grade Concentrate Example
This desktop example showed that the Halion LoopTM can deliver transformative results for on-site treatment of a (base case) conventional copper concentrate that was otherwise not economically attractive.
In an enhanced case, by instead producing a bulk polymetallic concentrate at low grade (and contaminated with arsenic), the project could deliver an extra US$100m pa of by-product revenue, with an IRR >75% and payback period of <2 years.
Net mine-to-metal cost just US$0.39/lb Cu (after by-product credits)
