VRX Silica (ASX:VRX) purchases two key pieces of plant equipment for Arrowsmith North

Highlights

• VRX Silica Limited (ASX:VRX) has recently secured key plant equipment for Arrowsmith North Project.
• The Company has purchased a second-hand feed trommel and a vibrating screen, which are being refurbished.
• VRX Silica expects the six-month construction phase of Arrowsmith North to commence in January 2023.

Silica sand explorer VRX Silica Limited (ASX:VRX) has achieved a significant milestone with the commencement of project capital expenditure at its Arrowsmith North Project.

Do Not Miss: Why Arrowsmith North is a near-term development opportunity for VRX Silica (ASX:VRX)?

The Company has secured two major items of capital equipment for Arrowsmith North, inching a step closer to the construction phase. The six-month construction phase of the project is scheduled to commence in January 2023, following the final Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval in December.

Following the key update, VRX Silica shares rallied by over 5.8% to A$0.180 as of 11:04 AM AEST.

VRX Silica has purchased a 3.6 x 8.5m Schenck “banana” vibrating screen and a 3m diameter x 8m long RCR-designed feed trommel, with the support of specialist engineering consultancy ProjX.

Let us dive into further details of the trommel and screen below:

RCR-designed feed trommel

The recently purchased trommel was previously part of a mineral sands operation and is now at Hotweld Engineering, which is a mechanical & fabrication workshop based in Bunbury. The Company informed that the trommel is in excellent condition structurally and an ideal fit-for-purpose item of major process equipment for Arrowsmith North.

For the uninitiated, the trommel is a crucial piece of process equipment, which contains a rotating screening barrel mounted over a huge sump on a structural steel-base frame. Mined sand passes via the screen panels and is ultimately pumped to the processing plant.

Also Read: VRX Silica (ASX:VRX) successfully tests water production bore at Arrowsmith North

Schenck “banana” vibrating screen

The purchased screen was earlier used at a lithium processing plant and has been relocated to RCR, which is a mechanical equipment workshop based in Bunbury.

As per VRX Silica, the screen has undergone strip and evaluation by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and refurbishment is well underway. No structural issues have been revealed from non-destructive testing, and the extent of refurbishment required is now expected to be far less than originally anticipated.

The domestic purchase of a high-grade, second-hand feed trommel and a vibrating screen – which are being refurbished – is expected to reduce the lead time and capital costs for Arrowsmith North. At a time when there is a fast-growing global demand for high-grade and responsibly sourced silica sand volumes, VRX Silica intends to continue pursuing other lead time and cost-saving opportunities to capitalise on its first-mover advantage in Western Australia’s emerging silica sand sector.

Good Read: VRX Silica (ASX:VRX) tapping opportunities in WA’s glass manufacturing industry