Queensland Pacific Metals

Strategic Partnership with SMT

Queensland Pacific Metals Limited (ASX:QPM) is delighted to announce that it has formed a Strategic Partnership with New Caledonian ore supplier SMT.


Highlights

  • Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (“QPM”) and Société des Mines de la Tontouta (“SMT”) (together, the “Partners”) have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to form a Strategic Partnership.
  • The Partners recognise the importance of long term, secure ore supply for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the TECH Project for QPM.
  • The parters will also consider and collaborate on investment opportunities in QPM to allow SMT to participate in the long term value created in the entire battery material supply chain from mined ore to end product.
  • The Partners also recognise the importance of ESG in the Electric Vehicle (“EV”) sector and the combination of SMT’s world class mining practices and the merits of the TECH Project will be invaluable.
Strategic Partnership

QPM and SMT have previously entered into an ore supply agreement for the supply of up to 600,000 wmt laterite ore per annum (see ASX announcement 2 June 2022). The Partners have now entered into a non- binding MOU regarding the formation of a Strategic Partnership to expand both Parties respective business interests. SMT is a subsidiary of the Ballande Group, a globally diversified conglomerate based in New Caledonia.

The Parties recognise the importance of:

  • QPM obtaining long term, secure ore supply for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the TECH Project;
  • SMT participating in the long term value of the entire battery materials supply chain created from being an ore supplier leading to increased short and long term employment opportunities in New Caledonia; and
  • ESG credentials for mining and processing activities when supplying into the western EV market, particularly for nickel, where there is growing concern of the dominance of Indonesian supply.

Under the Strategic Partnership, the Partners will collaborate on:

  • Investment opportunities in QPM for SMT that would allow it to participate in the value created from processing its ore into battery chemicals;
  • Additional ore supply beyond the term of the existing ore suppply agreement for Phase 1 of the TECH Project;
  • Additional ore supply for Phase 2 of the TECH Project;
  • Future mine development required by SMT to support additional ore supply; and
  • Improving and maintaining world class ESG standards and how these are reported.
Comments

QPM Managing Director and CEO, Dr Stephen Grocott commented,

“I am delighted to extend our current supply relationship SMT into a broader strategic partnership which encompasses the framework for cooperation to deliver even greater value to both companies. SMT has been a strong supporter of the TECH Project for a long time and this MOU is a natural extension of our current collaboration. It is intended to assist QPME in underpinning the ore supply for not only Stage 1 but also Stage 2 and provide a pathway for SMT to participate in the value created through development of the TECH Project”.

SMT General Manager, Arnaud Bondoux commented

“Signing a nickel ore supply contract with QPM means renewing relations with Australia, which has always been a historical partner of SMT and New Caledonia. Indeed, exports between SMT and Australia have taken place over a period of more than 25 years, from 1989 until recently in 2015. SMT was involved in QPM's innovative project from the outset by actively participating in the pilot tests. In fact, QPM and SMT have been in contact for four years now and have formed a partnership that led to the signing of a first MOU in 2017. SMT intends to make a long-term commitment to QPM, beyond its role as a supplier, in order to propose a new model for the valorization of New Caledonian ore.”


Click here for the full ASX Release

This article includes content from Queensland Pacific Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.

QPM:AU
The Conversation (0)
Element 25 Limited

Element 25 Signs US$85M Supply Deal with GM for Manganese Sulphate

Element 25 (ASX:E25) has signed a deal with General Motors (NYSE:GM) to supply the car manufacturer 32,500 tonnes of manganese sulphate annually, according to a news report by Reuters.

Keep reading...Show less
Centaurus Metals

Jaguar Nickel Sulphide Project – Feasibility Study

Positive Feasibility Study Demonstrates Strong Economics And Clear Pathway To Develop A Sustainable, Long-Life And Low-Cost Nickel Sulphide Project In Northern Brazil

Centaurus Metals (ASX Code: CTM) is pleased to announce the completion of a positive Feasibility Study (FS) for the development of its 100%-owned Jaguar Nickel Sulphide Project in the Carajás Mineral Province of northern Brazil, which highlights strong economics from an initial concentrate-only project delivering a long-life production profile at first quartile operating costs.

Keep reading...Show less
Pivotal Metals

Deeper Drilling Discovers Substantially Thicker Mineralisation at Horden Lake; Corresponding DHEM Results Indicate Exciting Depth Continuity

Pivotal Metals Limited (ASX:PVT) (‘Pivotal’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to provide the assay results of three further drill holes and, for the first time, the associated downhole electromagnetic survey (DHEM) results, from its 2024 diamond drill program completed at its 100% owned Horden Lake Project in Quebec, Canada.

Keep reading...Show less
Electric car plugged into charging station.

Surge in EV Market Drives Demand for High-density Battery Materials

The electric vehicle (EV) sector is growing, spurring the market for battery materials.

As lithium-ion batteries reach their capacity limit, demand is expanding for other raw materials to manufacture high-density batteries, particularly nickel. This metal boasts a wide range of physical properties that make it ideal for the green energy market — plus it’s an affordable component looked to for next-generation as well as existing products.

Demand for nickel for use in EVs is expected to increase tenfold from 2019 to 2030. Since nickel is also used to generate geothermal energy, hydrogen, hydro, wind and solar power, it’s emerging as a key component in green energy.

Keep reading...Show less
Blackstone Minerals

Blackstone Receives A$1 Million R&D Refund Advance

Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) (“Blackstone” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has received A$1 million as an advance from research & development (“R&D”) lending fund backed by Asymmetric Innovation Finance (“Asymmetric”) and Fiftyone Capital ("Fiftyone"), on Blackstone’s future 2024 refundable tax offset for R&D expenditure.

Keep reading...Show less
Pivotal Metals

First Two Step-out Holes Extend High Grades at Horden Lake

Pivotal Metals Limited (ASX:PVT) (‘Pivotal’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to provide the assay results of two further drill holes from its 2024 diamond drill program completed at its 100% owned Horden Lake Project in Quebec, Canada.

Keep reading...Show less
Ontario map.

Wyloo to Build Canada’s First Battery Materials Processing Facility in Sudbury

Privately owned critical materials company Wyloo announced on May 29 that it has secured a parcel of land in Sudbury, Ontario, to construct Canada’s first downstream battery materials processing facility.

The project is geared at bridging a gap in the conversion of raw materials to battery-grade chemicals for Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, while also reducing the country's reliance on imports.

Construction is anticipated to align with the development of Wyloo’s Eagle’s Nest mine in Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region, with mine construction expected to commence in 2027 and the facility to follow thereafter.

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×