Name of the Project
Fort Cady borate mine project.

Location
South-eastern region of San Bernadino County, California, in the US.

Project Owner/s
American Pacific Borates.

Project Description
American Pacific Borates has updated the enhanced Fort Cady borate mine definitive feasibility study (DFS), released on April 16, 2020, to bring forward about 40 000 t of sulphate of potash (SoP) production to the 2023 calendar year.

The project envisages the production of boric acid through solution mining of an orebody that is about 450 m below the surface.

Potential Job Creation
The project is forecast to directly employ 250 people once in full production.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project’s net present value, at an 8% discount rate, has increased from $1.97-billion in the enhanced DFS to $2.02-billion in the updated enehanced DFS, and its internal rate of return from 39.4% to 40.6%.

Capital Expenditure
Capital expenditure has increased from $737.9-million in the enhanced DFS to $842.6-million in the updated enhanced DFS.

Planned Start/End Date
Initial production of boric acid remains on track for the third quarter of 2021.

Latest Developments
American Pacific Borates is searching for a partner to extract lithium from the Fort Cady boron project.

The company has told shareholders that while the boron specialities business unit remains the company’s primary focus, the improving lithium economics and the emerging direct lithium extraction technologies have compelled American Pacific to consider partner options for potential lithium by-product production at Fort Cady.

Australian Pacific has been weighing its options to exploit the potential by-product credit lithium upside at Fort Cady, which is estimated to equate to about 214 000 t of lithium carbonate equivalent, since 2018.

The proposed partnering strategy will be jointly led by the US Advisory Board, given its deep lithium networks, American Pacific has said.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
American Pacific Borates, tel +61 8 6141 3145.