Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) is making headlines with its innovative and sustainable projects in the battery metals and energy sectors. The company’s TECH and Moranbah projects are setting new standards for eco-friendly practices and circular manufacturing processes, while also delivering strong financial results and securing strategic partnerships.

TECH Project: A Sustainable Battery Materials Refinery

The Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) Project is QPM’s flagship initiative, aimed at producing high-grade, advanced battery materials for the growing electric vehicle and tech markets. The project is located in the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct near Townsville, Queensland, where it benefits from access to a major port, extensive infrastructure, engineering services, and skilled labor.

The TECH project uses a proprietary Direct Nickel Process (DNi ProcessTM) to process imported, high-grade laterite ore from New Caledonia, a neighboring country with abundant nickel and cobalt resources. The DNi ProcessTM is a game-changer for the battery metals industry, as it significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and waste generation compared to conventional processes. The process also produces valuable co-products, such as hematite pellets, fertilizers, and zinc sulfate, demonstrating QPM’s commitment to minimizing waste and maximizing resource use.

The TECH project is expected to produce 16,000 metric tons per year (tpa) of nickel sulfate and 1,750 tpa of cobalt sulfate, which are essential ingredients for lithium-ion batteries. The project also plans to produce 50,000 tpa of high-purity alumina, which is used for various tech applications, such as LED screens, smartphones, and electric vehicles. These products have a strong and growing demand in the global market, especially in Asia, where QPM has secured binding offtake agreements with Korean companies LG Energy Solutions and POSCO, the world’s largest battery manufacturer and steel producer, respectively.

Moranbah Project: A Sustainable Energy Producer

In addition to the TECH project, QPM is also developing the Moranbah Project, a sustainable energy producer that collects waste gases from coal mining and converts them into electricity and gas. The project is located in the northern Bowen Basin, Queensland, where it operates a 12 MW power station and a gas processing plant.

The Moranbah project is a novel solution to the environmental challenges posed by coal mining, as it captures and utilizes the waste gases that would otherwise be vented or flared, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. By converting these gases into sustainable energy, the project not only reduces the environmental impact of coal mining but also generates revenue and cash flow for QPM.

The Moranbah project is now cash-flow positive, with consistent growth in production and revenue, as reported in QPM’s December 2023 Quarterly Report. The project also provides a secure and cost-effective gas supply for the TECH project, creating synergies and efficiencies between QPM’s two initiatives. Furthermore, the project has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with General Motors, one of the world’s leading automakers, for a collaboration agreement on the supply of green metals and energy for electric vehicles.

QPM: A Leader in the Green Battery Metals and Energy Industry

QPM’s TECH and Moranbah projects are redefining the battery metals and energy industries with their commitment to eco-friendly practices and circular manufacturing processes. By using cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, these initiatives are paving the way for a greener future in the energy sector. QPM’s projects are not only environmentally sustainable but also financially viable, as they have secured strategic partnerships, offtake agreements, and government support. QPM’s projects are aligned with federal and state objectives for a greener future, as well as the global demand for green metals and energy.