Andromeda Metals has successfully produced 4N High Purity Alumina (HPA) with 99.9986% purity at continuous pilot scale, marking a crucial step towards commercialisation and customer evaluation under a strategic supply agreement with Traxys.
- 4N HPA purity of 99.9986% confirmed at continuous pilot scale
- Independent EAG Eurofins analysis validates proprietary processing technology
- Pilot plant supports upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study and customer sample production
- Strategic HPA Supply Heads of Agreement signed with Traxys North America
- 2025 Scoping Study projects A$1.48 billion pre-tax NPV10 and A$247 million EBITDA
Pilot Plant Production Surpasses 4N Purity Threshold
Andromeda Metals (ASX:ADN) has achieved a significant technical milestone by producing High Purity Alumina (HPA) with a measured purity of 99.9986%; comfortably exceeding the 4N standard (99.99%); at its continuous pilot plant using Great White kaolin as feedstock. This marks a substantial scale-up from prior laboratory successes and confirms the robustness of Andromeda's proprietary processing technology.
Independent verification by EAG Eurofins employed Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GDMS) to measure total metallic impurities at just 14.47 ppm, validating the ultra-high purity of the pilot plant output. This analytical rigor underscores the project's potential to meet demanding specifications for advanced technology markets.
Commercialisation Pathway Accelerated Through Strategic Agreements
The pilot plant milestone dovetails with Andromeda’s recently announced strategic HPA Supply Heads of Agreement with Traxys North America, positioning the company to supply critical materials to the US market. Production of commercial-grade HPA samples from the pilot plant is expected to commence in the second half of 2026, facilitating customer evaluation programs that are critical for market entry and validation.
Acting CEO Sarah Clarke emphasised the importance of this progress: "Successfully producing 4N HPA through our continuous pilot plant is a major milestone that de-risks our proprietary process and advances us towards customer evaluation and commercial scalability assessment."
Pilot Program Driving Process Optimisation and Feasibility Studies
The ongoing pilot plant program is designed not only to produce customer samples but also to generate vital engineering and operating data. This data will underpin process optimisation efforts and feed into the planned Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), which aims to further define the project's commercial viability.
Alongside HPA production, the program is investigating value-add opportunities from co-products such as amorphous silica and gallium. Early analyses suggest these by-products could enhance project economics and resource utilisation, adding layers of potential value beyond alumina alone.
Strong Economic Indicators From 2025 Scoping Study
Andromeda’s 2025 HPA Scoping Study outlined a staged development plan targeting up to 10,000 tonnes per annum of HPA, with an estimated pre-tax NPV10 of approximately A$1.48 billion and average annual EBITDA around A$247 million. The study highlighted an 85% operating margin and positioned the project as a potentially low-cost global HPA producer, leveraging the premium Great White kaolin resource.
This economic backdrop provides a compelling rationale for the company’s ongoing investment in pilot-scale operations and commercial development activities.
Next Steps Focus on Customer Engagement and Project Advancement
Looking ahead, Andromeda plans to continue pilot plant operations throughout 2026, refining process parameters and producing crystalline alpha-HPA and amorphous HPA samples tailored to customer specifications. These samples will be integral to securing customer feedback and advancing market positioning.
The pilot program’s outputs will also support the forthcoming PFS, which is expected to clarify project scale, capital requirements, and commercial scalability. The company’s strategic engagement with Traxys and the US critical minerals supply chain underscores the broader ambition to establish a secure, Australian-based source of high-purity alumina for burgeoning technology sectors.
Bottom Line?
Andromeda’s pilot-scale 4N HPA production validates its proprietary process and sets the stage for critical customer evaluations and a Pre-Feasibility Study that will shape its commercial trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- How will customer feedback on pilot plant samples influence final product specifications and market targeting?
- What are the timelines and key milestones for the planned Pre-Feasibility Study and potential project financing?
- To what extent can co-product opportunities from amorphous silica and gallium impact overall project economics?