ABx Group (ASX: ABX) has taken a major step forward in its development of advanced materials processing technology, announcing that its subsidiary ALCORE Limited has submitted an Environmental Effects Report (EER) for its hydrogen fluoride (HF) pilot plant in Bell Bay, Tasmania.
The submission to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Tasmania marks a key milestone in the project’s progression, reflecting the company’s commitment to integrating environmental management into both the design and operation of the facility.
According to ABx, the EER demonstrates that environmental management considerations are embedded within the process design and proposed operating framework.
The company said this reflects a “best practice approach” aimed at ensuring sustainable project delivery while meeting regulatory and community expectations.
Dr Mark Cooksey, Managing Director and CEO of ABx Group, said the submission underscores the company’s progress and focus on environmental responsibility.
“The submission of the Environmental Effects Report is another important milestone for our project. We have endeavoured to implement a best practice approach to environmental management, and we look forward to feedback from the EPA,” said Dr Cooksey.
“The pilot plant itself is proceeding well.
“We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the first equipment in April, and to see our vision become a physical reality.
“Our small team has done incredibly well to advance the ALCORE technology to its current state.
“The appointment of two additional Senior Process Engineers increases our capacity and illustrates our confidence in the technology.”
The Bell Bay pilot plant is a critical demonstration step for ALCORE’s proprietary technology, which aims to extract hydrogen fluoride from aluminium smelter by-products such as bath material and refine it into valuable fluorine-based chemicals.
Hydrogen fluoride is a key input for many industrial products, including aluminium fluoride, which is crucial to the aluminium smelting process and global battery manufacturing sectors.
ABx said the establishment of the pilot plant is proceeding smoothly, including civil, mechanical, and electrical design and construction.
Current works encompass minor civil upgrades, site power improvements, and detailed equipment design and manufacture.
The first major equipment deliveries are expected to arrive on-site next month.
Equipment delivery and assembly activities are planned across the second and third quarters of 2026, with commissioning slated to begin in late Q3 2026.
Once operational, the pilot facility will provide essential data and performance metrics to guide potential commercial-scale operations.
ALCORE, which is 83 per cent-owned by ABx Group, has continued to grow its project team to support the next stages of development.
The recent appointment of two Senior Process Engineers is designed to accelerate progress and strengthen technical expertise as construction moves into an intensive phase.
Dr Cooksey said the additional engineering appointments reflect growing confidence within the team and among stakeholders in the company’s innovative fluorine technology.
With the EER now submitted and construction advancing on schedule, the Bell Bay hydrogen fluoride pilot project positions ABx Group at the forefront of Australia’s emerging fluorine materials sector — one with rising strategic importance to clean energy and advanced manufacturing supply chains.