Blackstone Minerals appoints hydrometallurgy specialist to progress downstream nickel business

Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) (OTCMKTS:BLSTF) (FRA:B9S) has appointed highly-experienced hydrometallurgical engineer Tony Tang as general manager project development – Downstream.

The appointment follows the company’s recent announcement outlining plans to expand downstream refining capacity and technical capability.

“Integral to company’s downstream ambitions”

Blackstone Minerals’ managing director Scott Williamson said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of a hydrometallurgical expert with the calibre and experience of Tony. 

“He will be integral in providing the technical rigour to advance the company’s downstream ambitions from design through to commercial viability. 

“His appointment is a testament to the talent eager to be a part of Blackstone’s vision and story.”

Extensive experience 

According to the company, Tang is a pioneer of nickel processing solutions and has led several R&D initiatives in connection to the Lithium-ion battery industry. 

He has extensive experience in the end-to-end design and development of second-generation hydrometallurgical nickel projects, including spending nearly a decade at the Murrin Murrin operations. 

Tang was involved in the scoping, PFS and DFS for the SCONI nickel, cobalt and scandium project 

as technical specialist for the test work development and the operation of a fully integrated pilot plant to produce technical grade product for off-take partners for evaluation. 

Tang is also a chartered professional member of AusIMM and has worked with top tier engineering consulting firms where he extended his excellence in feasibility studies, detailed design, construction, commissioning, operation ramp up and sustaining capital projects execution. 

Downstream business unit 

Tang’s experience is invaluable to the immediate ambitions of Blackstone’s downstream business unit (DBU), which includes plans to attract customers, design and construct a pilot plant in Vietnam and to ensure Nickel: Cobalt: Manganese (NCM) precursor production meets battery-grade specification. 

He led many complex chemical processing projects and has been a process matter expert on the panel for several studies including the Pt Antam – direct nickel process, Arafura Nolan, Hastings – Brockman, and Tianqi (LHPP1 &2) lithium projects.

Tang has collaborated with leaders in the battery industry and his experience includes R&D during the early stages of the development of NCM precursors, having achieved  high purity NCM acetate precipitate for many confidential clients based in Japan.

Story by ProactiveInvestors