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FPX Nickel's Baptiste nickel project has potential to become the industry's first carbon-neutral operation

Published: 09:53 02 Nov 2021 EDT

FPX Nickel Corp -
All tests achieved consistent rates of carbon mineralization ranging from 13.3 grams to 15.3 grams of carbon dioxide sequestered per kilogram of crushed tailings

FPX Nickel Corp (TSX-V:FPX) said new test results on tailings and waste rock indicate the potential for its Baptiste project to become the nickel industry’s first carbon-neutral operation.

The Vancouver-based company said that the results showed that the injection of carbon dioxide as simulated flue gas can increase the ability of tailings and waste rock to sequester the gas into a permanent mineralized form. That means the project has the potential for enhanced carbon capture and storage in tailings and waste rock, according to FPX.

"FPX is very proud to be playing a leading role in applying fundamental science to evaluate the potential for large-scale permanent carbon capture and storage in the mining industry," CEO Martin Turenne said in a statement.

READ: FPX Nickel says it has intersected one of the highest-grading nickel intervals in the history of the Decar Nickel District

"With previous lab and field tests having demonstrated the capacity of our Baptiste tailings to sequester significant amounts of CO2 from direct air capture, these new results enhance the ability to accelerate the rate of carbon mineralization when injecting the material with CO2 gas.  This opens up the possibility of even larger-scale CCS at the project, further raising the potential for development of a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative nickel mining operation at Baptiste,”  added Turenne.

The junior resource company said in a statement that the results complement earlier positive results from direct air-capture tests, and present an additional method of engineering carbon dioxide mineralization at Baptiste.

All tests achieved consistent rates of carbon mineralization, FPX said, ranging from 13.3 grams to 15.3 grams of carbon dioxide sequestered per kilogram of crushed tailings. Tests varied between eight and 18 days in length and were subjected to direct injection of 10% carbon dioxide gas under a variety of conditions of gas flux and permeability.

Testing was conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia and funded by FPX and the Canadian government.

Turenne noted that the 2020 preliminary economic assessment at Baptiste did not include the benefit of any potential carbon sequestration, adding that the company will be looking at the potential of incorporating the results into the ultimate design plan for the project.

Baptiste is located in the Decar nickel district in central British Columbia.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas

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