Orbite provides update on high purity alumina project

Orbite Technologies Inc. has provided an update on the company's progress towards high purity alumina plant completion and commissioning.

Construction Highlights

• As reported by the Company on February 11th, 2016, the installation of critical system components, withheld by a supplier in breach of his contract, commenced on January 4th and was completed on February 10th, 2016.
• The installation of the air, steam, and process piping and utilities around the calcination system, delayed by the installation of the withheld equipment, is now complete.
• Installation of the insulation on the decomposer and calciner is well-advanced and will be completed on the steam supply system shortly.

Commissioning

• The feed system for delivering Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate crystals (ACH) into the decomposer was commissioned, calibrated and tested using smelter grade alumina (SGA).
• The cold start-up of the decomposer and calciner and associated air and steam supply system was successfully completed.
• The testing and cold start-up of the CMI (Cockerill Maintenance & Ingenierie) acid capture system off the decomposer was completed with water circulation through the scrubbers. The system's response was in line with expectations and design parameters.

The next major milestone is the testing and start-up sequence of the decomposer and calciner ovens, commencing today, and will be carried out as follows:

• Cold fluidization tests (air only) using SGA in the decomposer and calciner with subsequent transfer of product between both ovens using the discharge devices and the seal pot assembly system.
• Start-up of the acid regeneration system with water circulation to capture any solids carry-over and to mimic normal operating conditions.
• Both ovens will then be emptied of SGA to proceed to hot start-up.
• The calcination system will then be cooled, emptied, cleaned and be readied for first ACH crystal introduction for HPA production.

Samples

Two additional sample sets were sent to prospective customers.

-- The first sample was of 5N purity at the request of a new prospective customer;
-- The second sample was of 5N+ purity, sent to an existing prospective customer who requested different sample material for an additional application.

The management representative said, "We are confident of completing this step successfully, which would continue us on course for commencement of commercial production in Q1. We will report to the market as we go through the start-up procedure."

"The next step will be converting on the commercial opportunities we have identified. We continue to benefit from strong industry interest, and are confident of the relationships we are building with prospective customers."

PDAC 2016

The company is hosting a booth at the PDAC International Convention, March 6-9, 2016. The PDAC Convention is the largest annual gathering of prospectors and miners in the world.

ROTH Annual Conference 2016

Glenn Kelly, President and CEO of Orbite will be presenting at the 28th ROTH Annual Conference, March 13-16, 2016, Orange County, CA. This conference is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S., featuring presentations from public and private companies in a variety of sectors. Glenn Kelly will be presenting at the conference on March 15th, at 7:00 am (PST), The Colonnade/Aqua.