Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX, OTCQX:BLSTF) has laid out an accelerated development pathway based on four key activities following strategy meetings with potential technology and offtake partners, intending to align the development of the Ta Khoa Project with core industry requirements.
This accelerated strategic schedule will involve the following critical activities:
1. Partnerships: engagement with partners to reach a final joint venture (JV) structure and investment contribution.
2. Staged development: supported by Wood, evaluation of staged development options, including a start-up scenario which would limit upfront capital and improve the development schedule.
3. Infrastructure: review of key project infrastructure and its impact on feedstock and product logistics, in collaboration with community stakeholders.
4. Prioritisation: reduction in monthly spend to focus on flowsheet test work, piloting, permitting and approvals. Non-schedule critical items will be delayed to conserve funding.
The Ta Khoa Project consists of the Ban Phuc Nickel Mine and Ta Khoa Refinery, part of Blackstone’s developing integrated battery supply chain in Vietnam.
Blackstone's vertically integrated business model.
Clear path to production
“It’s exciting to see clear pathways to production develop as discussions continue with prospective partners and works continue with our design engineers,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said.
“The flexibility and scalability of the flowsheet is a massive benefit to Blackstone and coupled with the soon-to-be-released Lifecycle Carbon Analysis, solidifies Blackstone’s view that this will be one of the greenest and most resilient nickel businesses in the world.”
Blackstone intends to continue exploration efforts on its properties as it progresses through the four activities, and is applying for additional exploration covering up to 100 square kilometres, as allowed under its investment certificate.