Salt Lake Potash Ltd (ASX:SO4) (LON:SO4) has started constructing the first evaporation ponds at its Lake Way Sulphate of Potash (SOP) Project near Wiluna in Western Australia.
The first phase will enable de-watering of the Lake Way Williamson Pit that contains the highest-grade brine resource in Australia.
Lake Way's initial ponds, which will be the country's first commercial-scale on-lake SOP ponds, will have the capacity to hold 1.2 gigalitres of Williamson Pit brine at an average SOP grade of 25 kilograms per cubic metre.
This contains the equivalent of 32,000 tonnes of premium SOP.
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Chief executive officer Tony Swiericzuk said: “It is a very exciting time for Salt Lake Potash as we begin construction on Australia’s first commercial-scale on-lake evaporation pond system.
“This is a key milestone for not only Salt Lake Potash but also for the creation of the new SOP industry within Australia.
“We will continue to progress works at Lake Way on both the construction of the first phase of evaporation ponds and on the exploration of the 'whole of the lake' development options, which we believe will underpin a globally significant SOP operation.”
READ: Salt Lake Potash hails initial success in evaporation trials at Lake Way SOP project
The utilisation of the Willamson Pit brine will accelerate Salt Lake Potash’s pathway to first production of SOP at Lake Way.
Construction of the initial Lake Way ponds is planned to be completed by the end of the June quarter of 2019 with de-watering of the Williamson Pit expected to begin towards the end of June.