SilMag Starts Test Olivine Based Magnesium Process

Norwegian magnesium refiner, SilMag started test at pilot plant to make magnesia chloride and silica from raw material of olivine and to refine silica. The firm continues the test through May 2010. SilMag will commercialize the process only when the firm confirms the demand for silica, according to source who visited the site in early September.

SilMag, which is joint venture of Norsk Hydro of Norway and AMG of Netherlands, built the pilot plant in Norsk Hydro’s Porsgrunn plant, Norway starting the test on September 14. The plant produces monthly 10 tonnes of silica while magnesia chloride making technology is already established.

SilMag’s challenge is to develop refining technology and market for silica. The firm eyes application for eco-tire. The firm already ships laboratory based sample to users and started talk with 2 users for mass production.

The firm decides the commercialization in May 2010 after the test. If the firm would decide the commercial plant, the firm continues research for silica refining technology and then builds plant with olivine treatment process and silica refinery while the firm utilizes existing facilities for magnesium electrolysis and ingot casting. The commercial plant would start operation in and after 2012.

The plant would produce annual 32,000 tonnes of alloyed magnesium and primary magnesium ingot. Norsk Hydro will purchase the primary ingot for additive for aluminium-magnesium alloy while SilMag will market the metal for Europe and Japan.