Ground-Breaking at Cap-Chat: Orbite Launches Const Ground-Breaking at Cap-Chat: Orbite Launches Construction of its High-Purity Alumina Plant
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 22, 2012) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (TSX:ORT) (the "Orbite") announces that it today launched construction for the conversion of its high-purity alumina (HPA) plant in Cap-Chat, in the Gaspé region. Attending the ground-breaking ceremony, in addition to a number of key Gaspé stakeholders, was Dr. Yves Bolduc, Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
This transition "from words to action" represents an investment of $26 to $30 million after refundable tax credits, which are subject to approval from government tax authorities. The work will be completed before the end of 2012, and commercial production is slated to begin in early 2013. Orbite estimates that the plant will produce three tonnes of high-purity alumina per day in the 12 months that follow its commissioning.
"Today marks a pivotal step in the implementation of Orbite technology, which will ultimately revolutionize the way that alumina is produced, be it high-purity or smelter grade. Our method, which is green in addition to being more productive and efficient, will soon become a supply source for the high technology industry and the world's largest aluminum producers," said Richard Boudreault, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orbite.
Since 2009, the Cap-Chat plant has been used as a pilot facility to develop the patented Orbite technology for the manufacturing of smelter grade alumina for aluminum plants, whose needs in Quebec alone have now risen to more than six million tonnes per year. As a result of the successful development of the Orbite technology, the pilot plant is undergoing conversion to a state-of-the-art high-purity alumina production plant.
This construction represents the first ultra-high technology implementation in the heart of the Gaspé region. Orbite is also working closely with local academic institutions to ensure that the jobs created through the Company's activities and planned expansion projects go to members of nearby communities.
In addition to the current HPA plant construction, the Company is confidently planning its future in the Gaspé region by conducting a feasibility study for its smelter grade alumina plant in the Grande-Vallée region. The production of smelter grade alumina in the area will provide a key economic lever for the Quebec economy by helping the province's aluminum smelters to lower their production costs. Indeed, the patented technology developed by Orbite will not only enable smelter grade alumina to be produced without producing red mud-a major ecological advantage-but will lower overall greenhouse gas emissions and optimize the commercialization of all of the by-products generated through metallurgical extraction from aluminous clay deposits in Quebec.
Finally, Orbite is proud to be associated with a number of economic partners in Quebec that have supported it for many years, including Revenue Québec, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, and the elected officials and citizens in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions.
About Orbite
Orbite currently owns 100% of the mining rights over a total of 60,984 hectares including the Grande-Vallee property measuring 6,665 hectares, the site of an aluminous clay deposit located 23 km south of Grande-Vallee, and a 2,600 m2 facility in the process of being converted into a high-purity alumina plant in Cap Chat, in the Gaspe region. An NI 43-101 report identified over 1 billion tonnes of aluminous clay in part of the deposit. The Company also owns ten different families of intellectual property rights (and patent pending), protected by Canadian and U.S. patents, for extracting alumina and for which patents are also pending in other countries. www.orbitealuminae.com.
Forward-looking statement
Certain information contained in this document may include "forward-looking information". Without limiting the foregoing, the information and any forward-looking information may include statements regarding projects, costs, objectives and future returns of the Company or hypotheses underlying these items. In this document, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or the Company management's good-faith beliefs with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described in the section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) entitled "Risk and Uncertainties" as filed on March 22, 2012 on SEDAR, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it undertake, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this document to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.