Sparc Technologies begins field test of ecosparc coating with 29Metals

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Processing plant at Golden Grove Mine, WA. Image credit: Sparc Technologies

Sparc Technologies announced the execution of a binding agreement with Golden Grove Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of 29Metals Limited, an Australian miner of base and precious metals.

This agreement sets the terms for a collaborative field trial using Sparc’s ecosparc enhanced coating on steel infrastructure at the Golden Grove mine in Western Australia, the company said in an ASX announcement.

The trial at Golden Grove, located 250 km east of Geraldton, will expose the ecosparc coating to a markedly different climate compared to coastal environments used in other trials.

This variation will provide valuable data, building on over five years of research and development and more than 10,000 data points from accelerated corrosion testing in the laboratory.

“It is highly rewarding to see our ecosparc additive incorporated into a market-leading anti-corrosive paint for use on infrastructure within the mining sector,” Sparc Managing Director Nick O’Loughlin stated.

“The extensive internal test work that has been completed with excellent results will now be externally validated in an application and environment which is distinctly different from the recently announced trials with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport,” O’Loughlin added.

The agreement underscores the market demand for superior anti-corrosive coatings. Sparc’s strategy involves collaborating with asset owners across various sectors, including government, defence, mining, and oil & gas, to showcase the efficacy of ecosparc in practical settings.

“We thank 29Metals for the innovative approach they have shown by supporting this new technology, which Sparc is confident will improve asset performance and sustainability while lowering maintenance costs for steel assets,” O’Loughlin concluded.