RESEARCH: Argex Titanium opens R&D lab near Montreal

QUEBEC – Montreal's Argex Titanium has opened the doors of its research and development west of Montreal inf Salaberry-de-Valleyfield at the site of what will be the company's first commercial titanium dioxide production facility.

The government of Quebec issued the necessary operating permits for the R&D centre last week. Argex's engineers have moved from the corporate headquarters to the new facility where the R&D team is also located.

Argex says that having R&D activities at a single site where the plant will be built will result in better co-ordination between trials and detailed engineering. Lower costs are also expected. The new centre will also serve as a training facility for the future commercial operation.

Earlier this month the company released the results of the feasibility study for the project. Pre-tax net present value (8% discount) was estimated to be $954.4 million with a pre-tax payback period of 4.2 years. The pre-tax internal rate of return will be 40.1% or after tax it will be 33.8%. The project could operate for 25 years, initially at 50,000 tonnes of titanium dioxide annually.

Further information is available at Argex.ca.