Xstrata Technology Issues First Albion Process Technology Licence
Brisbane, 9 December 2005
Xstrata Technology, together with Highlands Pacific and OMRD Frieda (a Japanese consortium), have signed the first Albion Process Technology licence agreement with Dominicana Gold Proprietary Limited, a 100% owned subsidiary of EnviroGold Limited.
Albion Process testwork on samples from the Las Lagunas tailings dam in the Domincian Republic has demonstrated that the Albion Process can achieve high gold and silver recoveries on a cost competitive basis and has given EnviroGold the confidence to select the technology for its proposed project to retreat tailings material.
Core Resources, the global marketing agent for the Albion Process technology, has facilitated discussions on the licence terms over the last few months and is looking forward now to supporting Xstrata and EnviroGold on the feasibility study and project development.
The Albion Process uses atmospheric leaching after ultrafine grinding to recover base and precious metals from refractory ores. It was developed over 12 years of research and piloting at Xstrata’s Hydrometallurgical Research Laboratories (previously owned by MIM) at Albion in Brisbane.
EnviroGold’s Chairman Brian Johnson commented: “We are happy to have secured an Albion Process Technology licence for the Las Lagunas Project and are looking forward to taking the project through the final feasibility study and into production”.
EnviroGold intends to spend approximately US$1.5 million on final metallurgical testwork and plant and tailings dam design, between December 2005 and June 2006. Subject to financing, the Company should be in a position to commence construction at the beginning of the dry season in the Dominican Republic around October 2006, with commissioning of the plant in May 2007.
Further information about the Albion Process is available from a dedicated website: www.albionprocess.com.
Ends
Xstrata contacts
Joe Pease
General Manager Xstrata Technology
Telephone +61 7 3833 8500
Fax +61 7 3833 8555
Email
Mike Hourn
Hydrometallurgy Manager Xstrata Technology
Telephone +61 7 3262 5926
Email
Core Resources contacts
Jonathan Loraine
Core Resources Pty Ltd
Email
Web: www.albionprocess.com
Peter Rohner
Core Resources Pty Ltd
Telephone +61 7 3871 0531
About Xstrata Technology
Xstrata Technology is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xstrata plc, a major global diversified mining group, listed on the London and Swiss stock exchanges and headquartered in Switzerland. For further information about Xstrata plc please see www.xstrata.com.
Xstrata Technology develops, markets and supports technologies for the global mining, mineral processing and metals extraction industries. These technologies, originally developed for use in own operations, are marketed for use by third parties. The division also provides metallurgical services to both industry customers and within the Xstrata Group.