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West Australian
28-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Titanium Sands retains Sri Lankan tenements for mining licence push
Titanium Sands Limited (TSL) has locked in its Mannar Island heavy mineral sands project for a final push towards production, after the Sri Lankan government extended its four key exploration licences. The retention paves the way for the company to complete its ongoing environmental studies and brings it closer to securing the all-important industrial mining licence (IML) for its high-grade mineral sands deposit. The four approved licences encompass the project's high-grade zones, which TSL's 2023 scoping study projects will gross stage one revenue of nearly $2 billion and a net present value of $545 million. The licence retentions also come after the government issued terms of reference (ToR) earlier this year outlining the requirements for TSL's upcoming environmental impact assessment process. The company says the approvals will enable it to finalise its studies to address the terms of reference requirements, a critical final step before TSL obtains its mining licences. TSL says it is targeting a mid-year environmental impact assessment submission, which will position it to apply for the mining licence and unlock the project's potential to produce up to 150,000 tonnes of heavy minerals annually, with a pre-production capital expenditure of just $122M. The company is prioritising stakeholder engagement. Government departments and local community consultation were all factors in the project's retention. It says the project's rehab and sustainability initiatives are expected to create up to 600 direct in-country jobs and support a further 1200 jobs through community-owned agricultural projects, fostering long-term economic growth in the Mannar region. The Mannar Island project hosts a high-grade resource of 318Mt grading at 4.17 per cent total heavy minerals, including an 82Mt high-grade zone running at 6.03 per cent heavy minerals. With a low capital intensity and robust financial projections, the project is poised to become a globally significant ilmenite producer, contributing to Sri Lanka's economy and supporting the need for new titanium mineral supplies as global mineral sands projects deplete. TSL says it remains committed to a low-impact, environmentally responsible operation, with community engagement at its core. With the environmental impact assessment process underway and government backing strengthening, TSL looks poised to quickly lock in its mining licence application, which represents a pivotal milestone in its journey to join the global ranks of mineral sands producers. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Altech marks milestone as it pumps out novel battery anodes
Altech Batteries is pumping out its high-tech Silumina anodes from its German pilot plant, marking a milestone for the company as it supplies first product to potential customers for testing and sets itself up for future commercial production. The new-age technology has achieved a significant breakthrough by coating silicon particles with a nanolayer of alumina. The high-tech particles are then sandwiched between graphite layers to form the anodes. The process has been shown to boost the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries by 55 per cent. The technology incorporates Altech's advanced alumina coating, as well as an optimised silicon content and the company's spherification method of forming silicon into sphere-shaped particles to provide a game-changing performance and a significant boost in the energy capacity. Silicon use in battery anodes has had two major drawbacks. The particles can expand by up to 300 per cent while batteries charge, leading to swelling, fracturing and ultimately, battery failure. Silicon can also deactivate a high percentage of lithium-ions, thereby reducing battery performance and lifespan. Altech says its testwork confirms that modifying the silicon particles with the alumina coating resolves these issues, which caused first-cycle capacity loss of up to 50 per cent. It notes its testwork shows stable battery and cycling performance. Initial issues with the dispersion of the silicon particles within the graphite mix were resolved by the spherification process. The company has recently built a pilot plant in Saxony, Germany, adjacent to its proposed commercial project site, which is producing its Silumina anodes. Altech is supplying anodes to several European vehicle manufacturers under non-disclosure agreements. Silicon has about 10-times the energy retention capacity of graphite, making it an ideal addition to anodes to help mould the next-generation of lithium-ion batteries. The significant increase in retention capacity from the high-tech improvement has resulted in a jump to about 500 milliampere hours per gram mass (mAh/g) for the company's anodes, in comparison to an average lithium-ion battery anode of 320mAh/g. If customer testing proves successful, Altech may have kicked open a door and pushed itself to the head of a global queue for anode supplies to electric vehicle battery manufacturers. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
West Australian
23-04-2025
- West Australian
The Pod Well Travelled: Exploring the rugged Australian Outback
Vast, remote and brimming with cultural richness, the Australian Outback is one of the world's most unique travel destinations. Host Megan French and seasoned explorer Stephen Scourfield discuss the wondrous landscape on the latest episode of The Pod Well Travelled. The duo take listeners on an epic journey from the iconic red heart of Uluru and the dramatic domes of Kata Tjuta, to the ancient gorges of Karijini and the rugged beauty of the Kimberley. Hear firsthand accounts of sunrise and sunset at Uluru, the ever-changing colours of the desert, and the spiritual power that draws travellers back time and again. The conversation also explores must-visit destinations such as Kings Canyon, Flinders Ranges and the legendary Gibb River Road, as well as quirky outposts such as Coober Pedy — where life is lived underground — and the historic mining town of Broken Hill. 'Karijini National Park is like going down an elevator in time, through millions and millions of years,' Stephen says. + We'd love to hear from you — send your questions, comments or feedback for the podcast to The Pod Well Travelled team via travel@ + Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends. + Sign up for eTravel via It's our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.
Perth Now
23-04-2025
- Perth Now
Exploring the rugged Australian Outback
Vast, remote and brimming with cultural richness, the Australian Outback is one of the world's most unique travel destinations. Host Megan French and seasoned explorer Stephen Scourfield discuss the wondrous landscape on the latest episode of The Pod Well Travelled. The duo take listeners on an epic journey from the iconic red heart of Uluru and the dramatic domes of Kata Tjuta, to the ancient gorges of Karijini and the rugged beauty of the Kimberley. Hear firsthand accounts of sunrise and sunset at Uluru, the ever-changing colours of the desert, and the spiritual power that draws travellers back time and again. The conversation also explores must-visit destinations such as Kings Canyon, Flinders Ranges and the legendary Gibb River Road, as well as quirky outposts such as Coober Pedy — where life is lived underground — and the historic mining town of Broken Hill. 'Karijini National Park is like going down an elevator in time, through millions and millions of years,' Stephen says. Stephen Scourfield and Megan French discuss travelling the Australian outback in a new episode of The Pod Well Travelled. Credit: Adobe Stock / Luke - + We'd love to hear from you — send your questions, comments or feedback for the podcast to The Pod Well Travelled team via travel@ + Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends. + Sign up for eTravel via It's our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more. Stephen Scourfield and Megan French discuss travelling the Australian outback in a new episode of The Pod Well Travelled. Credit: Adobe Stock / Reto Ammann -
