How Will Tim Netscher’s Leadership Accelerate Alluminous’ HiPurA® Commercialisation?

Leadership Bolsters Strategic Direction

Impact Minerals Limited’s (ASX – IPT) half-owned subsidiary, Alluminous Pty Ltd, has taken a significant step forward in its journey to commercialise the HiPurA® High Purity Alumina (HPA) technology. The recent appointment of Tim Netscher as Non-Executive Chair brings a wealth of international mining and processing expertise to the company. With decades of experience leading major projects and governance roles, including his pivotal role in Gold Road Resources’ multi-billion-dollar takeover, Netscher’s leadership is expected to guide Alluminous through its critical transition from pilot operations to commercial scale.

Pilot Plant and Laboratory Commissioning Progress

Operationally, Alluminous is making meaningful strides at its pilot plant facility in Perth’s O’Connor suburb. The commissioning phase involves testing each component of the proprietary HiPurA® solvent extraction process, which promises a modular and scalable approach to producing HPA with potential cost advantages over existing methods. Complementing this is the establishment of a high-purity analytical laboratory on-site, enabling rapid quality control and assay turnaround, an essential capability for refining the process and meeting stringent customer specifications.

Market Engagement and Product Diversification

Commercially, Alluminous has begun engaging with battery manufacturers and advanced materials companies, sectors where high-purity alumina is increasingly critical. The company is exploring a range of HPA-related products, including boehmite for battery separators, aluminium sulphate for solid-state battery cathodes, and aluminium nitrate for electrolytes. Early discussions with marketing agents in Europe and North America indicate promising interest, positioning Alluminous to capitalize on growing demand in these high-value markets.

Strategic Integration and Future Outlook

Impact Minerals is also pursuing integration opportunities between the HiPurA® process and its Lake Hope project, leveraging similarities in feedstock chemistry to maintain feedstock flexibility and accelerate scale-up. This dual-feedstock strategy, combined with a capital-light, modular process design, aims to reduce scale-up risks and speed the path to revenue. The roadmap outlined by management prioritizes pilot production for customer qualification, followed by a U.S.-based demonstration plant to anchor North American offtake, before scaling in line with demand.

Looking Ahead

With a clear focus on disciplined growth, customer qualification, and process optimisation, Alluminous is positioning itself as a credible contender in the bespoke, specification-driven HPA market. The next phases will be critical in validating the technology’s commercial viability and securing binding offtake agreements that could underpin future expansion.