ADAA member, Latrobe Magnesium (LMG) uses a world-first process of combined hydromet/thermal reduction for magnesium extracted from fly ash. 

LMG awarded Tenova - a leading developer and provider of sustainable solutions for the green transition of the metals industry - a contract to supply and supervise the MgO production plant. The demonstration plant in Latrobe Valley, Victoria will consist of spray roaster technology that will provide a production capacity of 300 kg per hour. 

LMG aim to transition their demonstration plant from their initial capacity of 1,000t of magnesium (Mg) metal per year to a commercial scale operation, producing between 10,000t to 40,000t per annum of magnesium metal. 

Tenova explained, "Thanks to its world-first patented hydrometallurgical extraction and thermal reduction process, the plant will harvest the magnesium metal from a fly ash resource - waste stream from brown coal power generation," they said.

Close to 100% of fly ash is converted into valuable commodities, enabling a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in comparison to magnesium production plants. 

David Paterson, CEO of LMG explained, "Demand for magnesium worldwide is strong. It has the best strength-to-weight ratio of all common structural metals and is increasingly used in the manufacture of car parts, laptop computers, mobile phones and power tools. Currently, the Latrobe Valley contains a 25 Mt inventory of fly ash. That is why it's so important for us to have a reliable partner in this project," he said.

The first magnesium is forecast to be produced in 2023. 

To learn more about Latrobe Magnesium, visit their official website.