The DNi Process has been developed to the stage where Aker Solutions has confirmed "the technical and economical viability of the Process through the use of conventional equipment and conservative design. The testwork has confirmed a robust and adaptable process... A well managed and funded Demonstration Plant program would provide sufficient data to allow a full-scale plant to be designed and built."
Aker Solutions of Toronto completed a Stage 2 Prefeasibility Study based on a process plant with a capacity of 3Mtpa treating 1.22% Ni ore (in a two staged combined six-hour leach) to produce 34ktpa Ni in Western Australia. Capital and operating costs for the study were as follows:
| |
Atmospheric Leach |
Pressure Leach |
|
| Capital Cost (US$ / lb of annual capacity)* |
~US$12 |
~US$13 |
| Cash processing cost (US$ / lb)** |
US$1.84 |
US$1.70 |
* included a reagent plant
** before Co and other by product credits (MgO, Fe203, AI203)
This represents US$500-600M for 20,000tpa of Ni output with a feed grade of 1.22%Ni.
Capital and operating costs will vary due to the deposit, location, infrastructure availability, size etc.
The process is capable of producing by products such as
Potentially more than 50% of the operational expenditures can be recovered through co-product credits depending on ore characteristics.
Leach Reagent consumption is 20-30kg/t of ore.
The low capital and operating cost make the barriers to entry of the DNi Process low.
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