Western Magnesium Corporation said it has started testing on its new continuous pilot reactor ahead of the original schedule.
The testing is described as a methodical process that ensures a safe and successful operation of the reactor and its auxiliary equipment.
Currently, heating and vacuum tests are underway and full operations are anticipated to commence after all safety testing is complete.
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Data collected from all stages of the testing will provide invaluable information for the future full scale commercial Western Magnesium plant.
“My expectations of being ahead of schedule have been met and I am pleased with the results to date,” Edward Lee, executive chairman, said in the statement. “I have asked management to take extra time to re-test each assembled piece of equipment and their respective automated features to ensure the utmost performance as material runs for producing magnesium metal will commence once all the dry operational runs have been fully tested and completed.”
The company is advancing towards its goal of being a low-cost producer of green, primary magnesium metal, a strategic metal known for its strength and light weight.
Executive president and CEO Sam Ataya also offered his thoughts on the pilot plant's test work.
“Being ahead of schedule will help us produce the data and analytics regarding magnesium production which is important for our planned Ohio site and breaking ground in eighteen months,” he said.
“These analytics are also critical as we continue discussions with different end users in the automotive, aerospace, eco-friendly companies and the US Department of Defense.”
Western Magnesium plans to continue the testing operations over the next 30 days, at which time the company will provide an additional update.
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