Andromeda Metals Fires Up HPA Pilot Plant Targeting Commercial Samples by H2 2026
Andromeda commissions HPA pilot plant as critical minerals push accelerates
Andromeda Metals (ASX: ADN) has completed commissioning of its High Purity Alumina (HPA) pilot plant, with the optimisation and testwork program now underway. This marks the transition from laboratory-scale to pilot-scale continuous operation, positioning the company to produce commercial 4N HPA samples targeted for customer evaluation in H2 2026. The program will also assess the potential of silica and gallium co-products to enhance project economics.
The company announced four key milestones:
- HPA pilot plant commissioned
- Optimisation and testwork program underway
- Commercial 4N HPA samples targeted for customer evaluation in H2 2026
- Additional value potential from silica and gallium co-products under evaluation
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What the testwork program is designed to achieve
The testwork program focuses on three core objectives: scaling up and optimising the continuous flowsheet process, producing commercial HPA samples for distribution to potential customers, and generating by-product materials for further analysis of their value-add potential.
Enhancements identified during commissioning are being implemented to support the transition from lab-scale to pilot-scale continuous operation.
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| Commissioning of pilot plant | Completed |
| HPA testwork program | Underway |
| Optimisation of pilot plant | Underway |
| First production of HPA samples | Planned Q3 2026 |
| Samples available for customer evaluation | Planned H2 2026 |
| By-product materials for evaluation | In progress |
| Prove scalability and support engineering design of commercial facility | Inputs used for planned Prefeasibility Study (PFS) |
The planned PFS will draw on inputs from the pilot program to prove scalability and support the engineering design of a commercial facility.
What is High Purity Alumina and why investors should care
High Purity Alumina is a highly refined form of aluminium oxide, recognised as a critical mineral in Australia, the USA and Europe. The material is used in high-growth end-use markets, including:
- LEDs
- Lithium-ion battery separators
- Electronics and semiconductors
- Synthetic sapphire glass
Next-generation applications include data centres powering AI, aerospace and defence.
For investors, HPA exposure provides a pathway into high-growth demand thematics independent of traditional aluminium markets. The critical mineral designation across multiple jurisdictions signals strategic importance as supply chains are reshored and secured.
Andromeda’s competitive edge and the co-product upside
Andromeda’s HPA project is underpinned by high-quality, low-impurity Great White kaolin feedstock. The company’s proprietary HPA processing pathway has demonstrated 99.9985% HPA purity at laboratory scale, according to its 1 May 2025 ASX release.
The 2025 Scoping Study released on 18 September 2025 demonstrated strong project economics and the potential for Andromeda to be highly competitive globally, particularly on cost of production and capital intensity.
A key differentiator is process flexibility. HPA product can be tailored to suit customer requirements, including differing morphology and product form. This positions the company to target multiple end-use applications rather than being locked into a single specification.
The co-product angle adds further upside. Amorphous silica and gallium, a critical mineral, are under evaluation. If by-products can be reclassified as high-value co-products, this could further enhance the economics outlined in the 2025 Scoping Study. By-product materials generated during the testwork program will be analysed for potential commercial applications.
Sarah Clarke, Acting CEO
“Commissioning of the HPA pilot plant is a key milestone for Andromeda’s critical minerals High Purity Alumina project. Under the program of testwork and optimisation, our focus is now on advancing product development, producing commercial HPA samples for customer evaluation while also assessing by-product materials for their potential to add further incremental value.”
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What comes next for Andromeda
The near-term roadmap centres on customer validation and feasibility inputs:
- First production of HPA samples — planned Q3 2026
- Samples available for customer evaluation — planned H2 2026
- Customer feedback — expected to guide product development and identify key target markets for future feasibility studies
- By-product analysis — feeding into the planned Prefeasibility Study
Customer feedback will be critical in shaping product development and identifying target markets. The PFS, which remains planned, will incorporate pilot-scale data to prove scalability and support the engineering design of a commercial facility. The pathway toward a potential commercial operation runs through customer validation and the technical de-risking delivered by the pilot program.
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