Name and Location
High-purity alumina (HPA) production plant, Quebec, Canada.

Client
Orbite Aluminae.

Project Description
The project involves the conversion of an HPA pilot plant into a state-of-the-art full-scale one-ton-a-day HPA facility, although the facility is expected to reach 3 t/d of HPA within 12 months of its commissioning without requiring further significant capital expenditure.

Net Present Value/Internal rate of return
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The plant is expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2015.

Latest Developments
Orbite will use a brick-and-mortar approach to complete construction of the decomposer and calcinator at its HPA plant.

“We have selected the brick-and-mortar approach instead of a castable monolith for the inner lining of the decomposer and calcinator. The extensive testing of the replacement materials at our Technology Development Center confirms that the materials selected will provide the required purity of end product and the operational longevity that we were looking for,” says Orbite CEO Glenn Kelly.

Orbite expects to start refractory installation this month and commercial production in the second quarter of 2015.
Originally positioned to become a smelter-grade and high-purity alumina products producer, Orbite has changed its strategic approach to first focus on its waste monetisation initiative in 2015, after which the plant will be modified to use the company’s chloride process. Orbite will also add a scandium and gallium recovery circuit.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Gastier (general contractor), Canam Group (design and construction of new building), Outotec (HPA calcination work) and Emerson Process Management (process control instrumentation).

On Budget and on Time?
The project has been subject to several delays, a budget blowout and a senior management changeover.

Contact Details for Project Information
Orbite Aluminae, tel +1 514 744 6264 or fax +1 514 744 193.
Gastier, tel +1 514 325 4220.
Outotec, tel +358 20 529 211 or fax +358 20 529 2200.