The construction of the Pilot Plan is essentially completed. The physical treatment section is now operational and as allowed the upgrading of then starting ore from about 0.23% nickel, up to more than 0.5%. This concentration improves substantially the profitability to be expected from the treated material.

 

Our technology calls for the production of hydrochloric acid in situ. This production of hydrochloric acid is accompanied by the recovery of a secondary product of high value that is potassium sulphate. This step has been tested in the pilot plan and has proven to be successful.

 

We are presently completing the arrangements for acid digestion and in the course of this summer all the steps of the treatment will have been experienced. As this time, the expenditure are within budgets and the feasibility study on the Asbestos tailings 800 million tons at 0,22% nickel) would be completed by November.

 

The mandate for the feasibility study has been given to a major engineering firm in Quebec, namely Roche & associates.