Arianne Phosphate Inc (TSX-V:DAN, OTCQB:DRRSF) said on Thursday it has successfully produced phosphoric acid on a continuous basis from its high-purity phosphate concentrate, marking the first time the process has been achieved in Quebec from a locally sourced apatite concentrate in more than 130 years.
The milestone involved producing roughly 1.5 tonnes of phosphoric acid over a one-week period at mineral processing research centre Corem's facilities.
The achievement comes as Western governments and industries have grown increasingly focused on securing domestic supply chains for critical minerals, with phosphate identified as a key input for lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, batteries, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and semiconductor manufacturing.
"The importance of phosphate continues to grow while at the same time supply chains are increasingly threatened by geopolitical events," said Raphael Gaudreault, chief operating officer of Arianne Phosphate. "This breakthrough demonstrates the opportunity for a fully localized phosphate supply chain here in Quebec, Canada, that could end a century of dependence on imported rock."
Arianne is advancing its Lac à Paul phosphate project in Quebec's Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, which it describes as the world's largest greenfield phosphate deposit and the only permitted phosphate mine in the Western world.
Arianne said the phosphoric acid produced from its concentrate can be readily upgraded to purified phosphoric acid, the higher-grade material required by the LFP battery sector.
The company also noted that its concentrate requires significantly less sulphuric acid to produce phosphoric acid compared to conventional sources.
"With government, industry and investors now understanding this challenging macro, the importance of Arianne should be underscored," said Brian Ostroff, head of strategic and business initiatives.
The company said it has invested approximately $100 million and more than 15 years in developing the project.