Mining research could benefit battery makers

Perth company, Hitec Energy has been offered an Australian Government R&D start grant for an innovative mineral extraction process that produces the key ingredient for alkaline batteries in a more cost effective way.

Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane today announced the grant, saying the process would produce significant environmental advantages and had the potential to earn export dollars for Australia.

"Hitec has been offered the grant to undertake permanent pilot plant testing and to complete a stability research study on the solvent extraction system that will be used in the production of high-quality electrolytic manganese dioxide," said Mr Mafarlane.

The new production process adds value to manganese waste products which are currently disposed of in tailing dams. It also eliminates the roasting of high value manganese fines, which means fewer greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and no water soluble manganese waste compounds would be consigned to tailings dams.

Hitec Energy plans to export the electrolytic manganese dioxide to the battery makers and may also license the technology overseas.