Investor News
Completion of Yallourn Property Acquisition & HydroMOR Patent Update
Environmental Clean Technologies Limited (ASX: ECT) (“ECT” or “Company”) is pleased to announce the settlement of the recently announced property purchase adjacent to the Yallourn power station and mine complex and the acceptance of its HydroMOR patent application in the European Union.
Yallourn Property Acquisition
The site has been acquired to host the deployment of the Company’s proposed headline hydrogen refinery project in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley (the Project), which aims to deliver:
- Net-zero emission hydrogen: supporting the energy transition
- Critical minerals: supplying the crucial battery storage market
- Agricultural char: supporting soil health and productivity
- Other valuable products.
The Company signed a binding purchase agreement with the vendor in late November 2021. With the final cash and share payments made today, completing the settlement of the land acquisition. The Company notes that the 25,000,000 shares transferred are subject to voluntary escrow for six months (to 22 August 2022). Refer to the ASX announcement entitled ‘Site Purchased for Proposed Hydrogen Refinery Project’ dated 23 November 2021 for transaction details.
Covering an area of 4.2Ha, the property (shown below) will allow the Company to progress its full feasibility study with the confidence that work may start on this site at ECT’s discretion, as and when feasibility results drive activities. The property is strategically located adjacent to the T15/16 upgrade project that is being co-developed by ECT and the owner of the Yallourn mine and power station, EnergyAustralia.
The site's suitability is reinforced by the fact that a previous lignite de-watering and briquetting project underwent significant site feasibility and planning approvals in 2013. Although that project did not proceed, the vendor has shared planning documents with ECT. The site also includes the formerly named “Powerhouse Hotel” building, leveraging existing infrastructure to provide office space, training and laboratory facilities for the Project.
HydroMOR Patent Accepted in European Union
Further to the acceptance of the Company’s first HydroMOR patent in the jurisdiction of Russia, notification has been received confirming the acceptance of the patent in the European Union.
The HydroMOR process offers an alternative to conventional CO2-intensive blast furnace steelmaking, enabling the use of lower-cost, abundant lignite in place of higher-cost coking coal, delivering a lower emission, lower cost, metal production process. The Company remains excited about the potential industrial applications for this technology.
The table below outlines the status of the various international patent applications for HydroMOR.
International Patent Application Status - HydroMOR
| Case Ref. | Country | Case Status |
|---|---|---|
| 35519103 | India | Response to Exam Report Filed |
| 35526602 | Australia | Exam requested |
| 35526603 | Canada | Application filed |
| 35526604 | China | Response to Exam Report Filed |
| 35526605 | European Patent Office | Accepted |
| 35526606 | Russian Federation | Accepted |
| 35526607 | United States of America | Examination report received |
| 35527133 | Indonesia | Response to Exam Report Filed |
| 35540529 | Hong Kong | Application filed |
This announcement is authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of ECT.
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