Orbite provides operational update on HPA plant construction

Orbite Technologies Inc. has provided an operational update on the company's progress with the construction of its high purity alumina plant, its commercial activities and expansion of its intellectual property portfolio.

HPA plant update

• CNC Mecanique was remobilized the week of May 24th to complete (notably) work on the high temperature steam piping for the calcination system, and they should be demobilized by the week of July 4th.
• Isolation Morrisette was remobilized the week of June 6th.
• The company put out to tender, in May, the remainder of piping mechanical and electrical work to be completed.
• Piping mechanical was awarded to Fjordtech Industries Inc., who will be commencing work in the week of July 4th.
• The work was awarded to Fjordtech on a fixed-price basis with penalty provisions for late delivery. The contract stipulates an 8 week project timeline.
• The contract for the remaining electrical and instrumentation work will be awarded the week of June 27th.

Commissioning and start-up

• All commissioning and cold start-up activities of the decomposer and calciner units have been completed successfully.
• Alumina product (SGA) has been successfully fluidized in both reactors, and up to 5 tonnes per day was successfully transferred from the decomposer to the calciner via the sealpot assembly system.
• Additional systems will be commissioned and started as they are completed by Fjordtech, including the hot start-up of the decomposer and calciner.

Samples

To date, 27 samples have been shipped to prospective customers, including one 50kg commercial sample. Two further commercial samples have been ordered (3 in total, to date). A further 21 samples are to be shipped to 20 additional prospective customers. Intellectual property

• Since the company's last update, a further 7 notices of allowance have been received.
• Additionally, 7 new patents were granted, for a total of 14 new intellectual property rights.
• The newly awarded IP covers notably the HPA production process, Red Mud Monetization, and magnesium extraction and recovery.
• Coverage was expanded in the U.S., Russia, Australia, Japan and Canada.

Glenn Kelly, CEO of Orbite said, "The changes we brought to our project execution structure have enabled us to lay down a very clear timeline towards completion of our HPA plant, as reflected by the fixed-price contract with Fjordtech.”