- The PFS will present a mature project basis, integrating FPX's extensive de-risking and optimization program undertaken since the 2020 PEA
- The PFS will present two strategic options, including:
- Base Case – production of a high-grade awaruite concentrate (50-65% Ni) for direct feed to the stainless steel market, utilizing a simple and robust concentrator flowsheet that is only possible due to Baptiste's awaruite mineralization
- Option – further upgrading of the high-grade awaruite concentrate to produce battery-grade nickel sulphate and cobalt-rich products for the electric vehicle battery supply chain, utilizing moderate leaching conditions and standard hydrometallurgical unit operations
- The PFS will be prepared by a team of industry-leading consultants, all of whom have meaningfully contributed to the Project's de-risking and optimization program since the 2020 PEA, thus maintaining strong continuity in the ongoing development of Baptiste
"The PFS will mark the culmination of several years of robust project de-risking and optimization activities, including resource definition drilling, engineering trade-off studies, baseline studies and pilot-scale metallurgical test programs," commented
The PFS will mark the culmination of an extensive de-risking and optimization program that has been undertaken since the issuance of the 2020 PEA. With data collection and fundamental optionality largely addressed during the post-PEA work program, FPX is confident that the PFS can be executed in an efficient manner, and the team will be able to focus on maximizing the project's technical and commercial maturity. Key work elements since the 2020 PEA and their respective impact on the PFS base case are presented in Table 1.
The PFS will present a base case of a mine and concentrator facility to produce a high-grade awaruite concentrate (50-65% Ni) which can be directly fed to the stainless steel industry without intermediate processing. As a strategic alternative, the PFS will present an option to further refine the high-grade awaruite concentrate within a standalone, off-site refinery to produce both battery-grade nickel sulphate and cobalt-rich products for the electric vehicle battery supply chain. This highly flexible approach is due to Baptiste's unique mineralogy and the resultant simple flowsheets for the production of high-value concentrate and sulphate products.
Table 1 –
Work Elements | Description | Results |
Geology & Resource Estimate | Completion of an in-fill drilling program, targeting conversion of near-surface, high-grade inferred resources to the indicated category. | Drill results converted inferred resources to indicated resources, as per Company objective. See FPX News Release dated |
Completion of an updated resource estimate incorporating 2021's in-fill drilling, combined with a new geological modelling approach and improved dike model. | 2022 mineral resource estimate achieved a 6% Davis Tube Recoverable ("DTR") Ni grade increase for indicated resources as compared to 2020 mineral resource estimate. 2022 mineral resource estimated included first-time reporting of Total Ni, DTR Co, and DTR Fe, providing the opportunity for potential inclusion of secondary products within the PFS economic basis. See FPX News Release dated | |
Metallurgy | Phase 1 – Grindability and initial pilot-scale testwork on both mine phase and master composites | A mature dataset supporting PFS-level design criteria. See FPX News Release dated |
Phase 2 – Mineralogy on both mine phase and master composites; and flotation testwork on master composite | A mature dataset to support PFS-level design criteria. See FPX News Release dated | |
Phase 3a – Larger-scale pilot testwork to validate the PFS flowsheet | Results both validate the PFS flowsheet as well as confirm tangible process benefits in plant-scale processing. See FPX News Release dated | |
Phase 3b – Variabilty testwork on the concentrator flowsheet and optimization testwork on the hydrometallurgical refinery flowsheet for production of nickel sulphate | Testwork in progress to further support design criteria. Results forecast for release in | |
Geotechnical | Completion of phased geotechnical and hydrogeological site investigation programs in 2021 and 2022. Historic open-pit geotechnical data analyzed to provide more mature open-pit design criteria. | Suitable site characterization information now available for PFS design and estimating purposes. |
Engineering Studies | Focusing on project elements having the strongest influence on overall project value, a series of de-risking and optimization trade-off studies were conducted. | Project value improved through: · Change to SAG (semi-autogenous grinding) mill comminution · A phased development approach with a smaller scale of initial development as compared to the 2020 PEA approach · A detailed alternatives assessment of all available mine waste management strategies identified several viable alternatives, with the lowest overall risk option to be carried forward to the PFS · Improved understanding of linear facility options (road and power corridors) and economics · Evaluation of multiple mine planning scenarios, improving the metal production profile, optimizing hauling distances and overall footprint See FPX News Release dated |
Environmental & Cultural Baseline Studies | Execution of 2021 baseline readiness reconnaisance program, following by resumption of full environmental and cultural baseline studies in 2022, utilizing an Indigenous-led process which involves signifcant contributions from local stakeholders. | Collaborative approach with local stakeholders has produced high quality results on schedule. |
Indigenous Engagement | A comphrehensive Memorandum of Agreement was signed with the Binche Whut'en First Nation, which provides support to FPX's project development activities. | See FPX News Release dated |
The PFS will fully incorporate de-risking and optimization results as summarized in Table 1. The PFS will be conducted with the assistance of industry-leading service providers, and the collective team will produce a fully integrated National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report. Key service providers have all meaningfully contributed to previous Project works, which reduces both technical, commercial, and schedule risks. Key service providers contributing to the PFS are presented in Table 2.
Table 2 – Key Service Providers Contributing to the PFS
Participant | Scope of Responsibility | First Engaged on the Project |
Process, infrastructure, and overall PFS integration | Q4-2021 | |
Knight Piésold Ltd. | Tailings, water management, and geotechnical | Q2-2021 |
Site access road | Q4-2021 | |
Off-site power system | Q4-2021 | |
Geological modelling and resource estimation | Q4-2021 | |
Metallurgical consultant and Qualified Person | 2018 | |
Shas-Ti (an | Environmental and cultural baseline studies | Q1-2022 |
ERM | Hydrology and meteorology | Q1-2021 |
Lorax | Geochemistry | Q4-2021 |
Sasuchan Environmental | Hydrogeology | Q4-2022 |
In addition to the technical work conducted since the PEA, the Company has also focused efforts on understanding the current project execution environment, including both cost escalation and schedule considerations. FPX and its consultants have reviewed recently constructed major concentrator projects as well as regional mining projects, and learnings from both efforts will bolster PFS execution planning and cost estimating efforts. With the resultantly mature technical and commercial basis presented in the PFS, the Company is confident that Baptiste's large scale, long life, favourable jurisdiction, and low-carbon intensity will support the continued development of the Project as a preferred feed source to either or both of the stainless steel and electric vehicle battery supply chains.
The Company's
Decar hosts a greenfield discovery of nickel mineralization in the form of a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy called awaruite (Ni3Fe), which is amenable to bulk-tonnage, open-pit mining. Awaruite mineralization has been identified in four target areas within this ophiolite complex, being the Baptiste Deposit, and the B, Sid and Van targets, as confirmed by drilling, petrographic examination, electron probe analyses and outcrop sampling on all four targets. Since 2010, approximately US
Of the four targets in the
On behalf of
"Martin Turenne"
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Neither the
SOURCE
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