Name of the Project
Vidalia further expansion project.
Location
Louisiana, in the US.
Project Owner/s
Syrah Resources.
Project Description
A definitive feasibility study has confirmed that the expansion of Vidalia’s capacity to 45 000 t/y of active anode material (AAM) is technically viable and financially robust, with processed graphite estimated at 74 600 t/y.
The AAM facility will have the flexibility to produce an additional AAM product with differentiated electrochemical performance parameters, adding to the product the company will produce from the 11 250 t/y AAM Vidalia facility under construction, or the Vidalia initial expansion project.
Potential Job Creation
Syrah resources reported in January 2024 that the operations team is fully staffed, with more than 100 people engaged in the commissioning process, and ready to ramp up production at Vidalia.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an estimated pretax net present value, at 10% discount rate, of between $208-million and $794-million, and an internal rate of return of between 13.9% and 22.9%, with a payback of four to six years from the start of operations.
Capital Expenditure
The initial expansion project will cost $198-million. Total installed capital cost for the Vidalia further expansion project is estimated at $539-million.
Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.
Latest Developments
Syrah Resources has reported a slight delay in the production of AAM at the Vidalia facility, but expects the plant to start production before the end of January.
The commissioning of the purification area, including the introduction of reagents into the circuit, has been delayed, owing to optimisation activities associated with the press filtration system and unusual below-freezing temperatures at Vidalia.
The Syrah team is working with vendors to safely complete wet commissioning of the purification area in preparation for the project.
The company has produced unpurified spherical graphite from the front-end milling area since October 2023 to build inventory of precursor value-added material in preparation for the purification and furnace areas becoming operational.
The heating cycle for the first furnace line started in early January.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Syrah Resources, tel +61 3 9670 7264 or email enquiries@syrahresources.com.au.