Lifezone Metals (NYSE: LZM) has successfully produced nickel, copper and cobalt cathode materials from concentrates derived from borehole core samples at the company’s Kabanga project in northwest Tanzania.
This milestone marks the first metal production from Kabanga since the deposit’s initial discovery in 1975 by the United Nations Development Program. The samples were produced via a pilot-scale refinery testwork that is underway at Lifezone’s laboratory in Perth, Australia.
The testwork centers around a proprietary processing technology known as Hydromet, which is said to have a lower carbon footprint than the conventional pyrometallurgical smelting method. Prior tests using this method have demonstrated nickel recoveries of over 98.5%.
Commenting on this historic milestone, Lifezone’s CEO Chris Showalter said: “This accomplishment, resulting from extensive test work at our in-house laboratory, reflects our commitment to innovation and bringing this world-class resource to market.”
“This success highlights the effectiveness of our hydrometallurgical techniques and our commitment to sustainable metal production,” added Mike Adams, chief technology officer. “The pilot plant’s performance has been exemplary, closely matching our process simulation models, and we are optimistic about the positive impact this will have on the Kabanga nickel project.”
