Austrlian exploration and development company Aspire Mining has confirmed the value of coal at its 100%-owned Ovoot Coking Coal Project in northern Mongolia.
The company completed an initial pilot coke testing using coal indicative of what will be produced from the Ovoot project.
Test work program using various blends demonstrated that Ovoot coking coal can be used to replace hard coking coal in a batch when using lower quality semi-soft coking coals.
Results demonstrate a significant value addition for the coke industry with the ability to carry coke breeze or coke oven residues in a batch and convert it into quality coke at higher coke yields.
Aspire managing director David Paull remarked that the company is pleased with the initial coal quality indications for the Ovoot coking coal.
"This work has confirmed the attractiveness of adding Ovoot coking coal into coke blends.
"This is an important step which will now allow Aspire to progress commercialisation negotiations for future sales and funding," Paull added.
Ovoot project is a large scale open pit mining operation, where the company plans to produce up to 12 million tons of of saleable coking coal a year at full capacity over a 20 year life of mine.
Aspire expects to begin production at the Ovoot Project in 2016 subject to receipt of funding, approvals and licenses.