Name of the Project
Beyondie sulphate of potash project (BSoPP).

Location
Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Kalium Lakes Limited (KLL).

Project Description
The front-end engineering and design (FEED) for Beyondie has delivered even further improved production and financial outcomes, including:

• a 10% increase in the production rate, from 82 000 t/y of sulphate of potash (SoP) in the September 2018 bankable feasibility study (BFS) to an estimated 90 000 t/y Stage 1 SoP facility, ramping up to a 180 000 t/y full-scale facility (BFS 164 000 t/y) proposed in the FEED;

• an overall system potassium recovery improvement from 72% to 91%, as a result of debottlenecking the process plant and an increase in the potassium recovery from the flotation tails stream; and

• a decrease in the total evaporation pond size from 445 ha to 399 ha.

The initial mine life is estimated at more than 30 years and up to 50 years.

The SoP product quality has remained the same, at a premium from 51% to 52% potassium oxide, with negligible chloride and minimal insoluble material.

Potential Job Creation
The Beyondie project will create up to 80 jobs during construction and employ about 50 full-time workers over the 30-year life of the mine, and will bring important infrastructure to the regional community, with the construction of an airstrip, upgraded roads, improved communications and a 78 km gas pipeline.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project’s pretax net present value has increased from A$575-million, at an 8% discount rate in the BFS, to A$606-million in the FEED, while the internal rate of return of has decreased from 20.4% 20.3%.

The September 2018 BFS estimated an initial payback of seven years.

Capital Expenditure
Preproduction capital for Stage 1 has increased from A$159.6-million in the definitive feasibility study (DFS) to A$216-million in the FEED.

Planned Start/End Date
The project was approved in October 2019. Commissioning and ramp-up to nameplate throughput is expected in 2020.

Latest Developments
Kalium Lakes has awarded contracts for the construction of a A$20-million gas pipeline to supply gas to its recently approved BSoPP.

The scope of the gas pipeline has been divided into three major contracts, which include the manufacture and supply of the coated linepipe by Edgen Murray, the installation of the pipeline by Pipecraft, and the design, supply and construction of the inlet and delivery stations, as well as the pipeline by Primero.

Kalium Lakes CEO Rudolph van Niekerk has said that the company was pleased to have concluded the award of the contracts to reputable contractors and suppliers.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
KLL (DFS), K-UTEC, DRA Global, Advisian, Shawmac, Wyntak and Preston Consulting (principal technical consultants and FEED); RSM, DLA Piper Australia, HopgoodGanim Lawyers and BurnVoir Corporate Finance (accounting, legal, commercial and financial advisers); Edgen Murray (manufacture and supply of the coated linepipe), Pipecraft (pipeline installation); and Primero (design, supply and construction of the inlet and delivery stations, as well as the pipeline).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
KLL, tel +61 8 9240 3200 or email info@kaliumlakes.com.au.