Crystallization Equipment Installation Completed at Electra's Cobalt Sulfate Plant in Canada

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Recently, Canada's Electra Battery Materials confirmed that the mechanical installation of the crystallization section at its cobalt sulfate refinery located on the Timiskaming Shore in Ontario has been completed, with construction of the solvent extraction workshop, electrical systems, and tailings facilities advancing in parallel. The remaining construction budget for the project is US$73 million, and the on-site construction workforce has increased from approximately 60 in August to 130. Mechanical completion is planned for the second quarter of 2027.

The mechanical equipment for the crystallization workshop has been installed in place, process ductwork has arrived on site, external piping prefabrication is underway, and the building's exterior wall and roof enclosure works are nearing completion. The internal steel structure installation of the solvent extraction workshop has been completed, equipment modules have been positioned, and lamination construction of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) equipment has commenced.

Flushing and dismantling of old equipment and piping within the existing refinery facilities are essentially complete, and the partition walls of the motor control center room have been built. The main structure of the product silo has been erected, and construction personnel are installing the roof and exterior wall enclosure, which will subsequently be used for the storage, handling, and packaging of dried cobalt sulfate product.

In terms of electrical works, the installation of indoor and outdoor cable trays at the refinery is nearing completion, and the main power cables connecting the refinery workshop to the solvent extraction electrical room have been laid. Phase II of the tailings storage facility is under construction, with civil works approximately 40% complete.

Project construction is being carried out by multiple contractors under a division of responsibilities: WB Melback is responsible for the solvent extraction workshop, Pro Pipe Construction for the crystallization section works, Kilmarnock Enterprises for the modification of existing refinery facilities, MECC for electrical works, and Pedersen Construction for the tailings facilities. Electra has also signed an agreement with FRP Systems for the implementation of fiberglass-reinforced plastic process piping works in the solvent extraction area.

With respect to commissioning preparation, Metso has been engaged to provide on-site technical consulting during the mechanical completion and commissioning phases. Work related to the Rockwell automation control system is progressing, instrument verification has begun on site, and the laboratory has completed the development of analytical methods for battery-grade cobalt sulfate. The plant is designed to process approximately 18,000 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide feedstock per year, producing 5,120 tonnes of contained cobalt in battery-grade cobalt sulfate product.