HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. – (www.HPQSilicon.com) (TSX-V: HPQ),
(OTCPink: URAGF), (FWB: UGE) is pleased to
present the salient points of an updated budgetary estimate
regarding the significant cost advantages of building a commercial
scale PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor (QRR), versus conventional
processes to produce Silicon Metal (Si). The budgetary estimates
were prepared by PyroGenesis Canada Inc (“PyroGenesis”)
(TSX-V: PYR), using the data generated during our Gen1, Gen2
testing and Gen3 design & build phases.
PUREVAP™ THE SCALABLE,
VERSATILE, & ADAPTABLE PROCESS THAT WILL CHANGE Si
PRODUCTION
PyroGenesis calculates the maximum scaled up
size of a single PUREVAP™QRR would allow the production of 2,500
metric tonnes (“MT”) of Silicon Metal per year. The total
capacity of any PUREVAP™ QRR plant is therefore scalable by
increments of 2,500 MT per year, making the PUREVAP™QRR process the
most versatile and adaptable process to produce Silicon Metal (Si).
This conclusion stems from the data of the two most recently built
plants (“Greenfield”) to produce Metallurgical Grade Si (Mg Si),
where conventional smelter processes require a minimum scale
capacity of ~ 30,000 MT of Mg Si per year to be viable.
HPQ PUREVAP™ QRR TO
REDUCE CAPEX COST PER KG OF ANNUAL CAPACITY BY UP TO
51%
Comparing the capacity and cost per Kg of annual
capacity for a PUREVAP™ QRR plant versus the same data from the two
most recent Greenfield plants, which were built using conventional
processes to produce Mg Si, the scale of the PUREVAP™ QRR
competitive cost advantages become very apparent.
- HPQ commercial scale up plans call for the commissioning of a
first 2,500 metric tonnes per annum (“MTA”) PUREVAP™ QRR and, once
demand requires, a second 2,500 MTA PUREVAP™ QRR, would be added to
the plant. Pyrogenesis budgetary estimates for the first 2,500 MTA
PUREVAP™ QRR indicate a cost per Kg of annual capacity of
approximately US$ 8.89. Thereafter, simply increasing annual
capacity to 5,000 MTA, with the addition of a second 2,500 MTA
PUREVAP™ QRR, significantly reduces the cost per Kg of annual
capacity down to only US$ 6.22.
- PCC BakkiSilicon hf is a new entrant that signed a turnkey
contract for its Greenfield plant commissioned in 2018 in Húsavík
(Iceland). The plant set up is the standard two furnaces
layout and cost over US$ 300 Million to build. With an annual
capacity of 32,000 MTA of Mg Si, this project has a cost per Kg of
annual capacity of US$ 9.38. (51% higher than
PUREVAP™)1
- Mississippi Silicon, a subsidiary of a large Brazilian tier 1
producer (Rima Industrial S/A), which has in house expertise in
building new Greenfield plants, built a new plant that was
commissioned in 2015 in Burnsville, Mississippi (USA). The
plant uses the standard two furnaces layout and cost over
US$ 220 Million to build. With an annual capacity of 36,000 MT
of Mg Si, this project has a cost per Kg of annual capacity of
US$ 6.11.2 A PUREVAP™ QRR can match the cost per Kg of
capacity of a tier 1 producer Greenfield plant at a fraction of the
investment required (85% less).
“According to an engineering and consultant firm
specialized in building Greenfield Silicon Metal plants, the three
critical elements for success are: 1) Access to cheap power; 2)
Carbon Sourcing Management; and 3) Control over Capex of new
plants. Being a Quebec based Company; access to cheap, clean
and reliable power is not an issue. Regarding Carbon Sourcing
Management and Capex Control, our results to date demonstrate that
we are definitely moving in the right direction. With the Gen3
phase start just around the corner, we are getting closer to the
time when market participants will have no choice but to take
notice that we are the only viable low Capex and Opex alternative
to producing Silicon Metal, the energy metal of the future” stated
Bernard Tourillon, President & CEO of HPQ Silicon Resources
Inc.
PUREVAP™ QRR SCALE, LOW
OPEX AND CAPEX INDICATE STRONG ECONOMIC VIABILITY
In the June 17, 2019 releases the Company
indicated that PUREVAP™ QRR efficiency could generate a 20%
reduction in the cost of making 99+ % metallurgical grade silicon
metal (“2N Mg Si”) Si versus conventional processes. Today, the
budgetary estimates provided by PyroGenesis indicates that the
minimum capital investment needed by HPQ to become a Silicon Metal
producer is 90% smaller than what Mississippi Silicon invested and
93% less than what PCC BakkiSilicon hf invested. The combination of
HPQ PUREVAP™ QRR Opex, Capex and Scalability advantages is what
makes the process so competitive in the Silicon Metal space.
The Gen3 pilot plant testing, that is set to
commence soon, aims to validate these hypotheses of future
commercial production economic viability.
PUREVAP™ QRR IMPURITY
REMOVAL CAPABILITY ALLOW HPQ TO TARGET HIGH VALUE
MARKETS
Gen2 testing demonstrated that the PUREVAP™ QRR
process could reach greater than 99% selective impurity removal
efficiency, meaning that, working only with operational parameters,
unwanted impurities can be volatized from the final silicon phase,
in the reactor.
Upcoming Gen3 pilot plant testing will validate
the PUREVAP™ QRR one step selective impurity removal efficiency and
demonstrate that operational parameters control will allow HPQ to
adapt the final purity of the Silicon Metal (Si) tapped out from
its commercial reactors and produce Si chunks of either:
- The 99.99+% Si purity required for niche market applications or
feedstock for our metallurgical route to produce Solar Grade
Silicon (SoG-Si UMG);
- The 99.5% Si purity required by end buyers in the Silicones,
Polysilicon for Photovoltaic or Batteries sectors, and
- The 98.5% Si purity required by end buyers in the aluminium
sector
PUREVAP™ QRR ELIMINATES
NEED FOR POST METAL REFINING
Until now, only the standard two-step commercial
process to produce metallurgical grade silicon metal (“Mg Si”)
existed. Under this pathway, raw materials (SiO2 and Reductant) are
fed into giant submerged arc furnaces, where the carbothermic
reaction occurs, then the molten silicon is tapped into a ladle
were the oxidation and slag refining step is done. Without the
final slag-refining step, conventional smelters are not able to
produce Mg Si (98.5 -99.5% Si).
The PUREVAP™ QRR process ONE
STEP selective impurity removal efficiency eliminates the
need for the tapped liquid metal exiting the reactor to go through
an oxidation and slag-refining step, which is another reason why
PUREVAP™ Capex and Opex are going to be significantly lower than
conventional processes of making Silicon Metal.
Pierre Carabin, Eng., M. Eng., Chief Technology
Officer and Chief Strategist of PyroGenesis has reviewed and
approved the technical content of this press release.
This News Release is available on the
company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a moderated social
media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A
between Management and Shareholders.
About HPQ Silicon
HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. is a TSX-V listed
resource company focuses on becoming the lowest cost producer of
Silicon Metal and a vertically integrated and diversified High
Purity, Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG Si) producer and a
manufacturer of multi and monocrystalline solar cells of the P and
N types, required for production of high performance photovoltaic
conversion.
HPQ’s goal is to develop, in collaboration with
industry leader PyroGenesis (TSX-V: PYR) the innovative PUREVAPTM
“Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR)”, a truly 2.0 Carbothermic process
(patent pending), which will permit the transformation and
purification of quartz (SiO2) into Metallurgical Grade Silicon
Metal (Mg Si) at prices that will propagate it clean energy
potential.
HPQ’s goal, working with industry leader Apollon
Solar, is also to develop a metallurgical approach to producing
Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG Si) that will take full advantage of
the PUREVAPTM QRR production of high purity silicon metal (Si) in
one step and reduce by a factor of at least two-thirds (2/3) the
costs associated with the transformation of quartz (SiO2) into SoG
Si. The pilot plant equipment that will validate the commercial
potential of the process is on schedule to start in
2019.
Disclaimers:
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate",
"continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and
other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current
expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our
expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the
market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the
capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to
research and development, the impact of competitive products and
pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the
regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current
views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from
time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities
regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at
www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ
materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements either as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information
contactBernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President and CEO
Tel (514) 907-1011 Patrick Levasseur, Vice-President and COO Tel:
(514) 262-9239 www.HPQSilicon.com
____________________1
https://www.pcc.eu/en/official-start-of-construction-for-pccs-silicon-metal-project-in-iceland/2
A) https://www.missilicon.com/, B)
https://www.missilicon.com/news/premier-mississippi-silicon-plant-opens
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