Clean TeQ Water Wins Rasp Mine Tailings Dewatering Plant Contract From Broken Hill Mines

Why It Matters

The contract gives Clean TeQ near‑term construction revenue and a pathway to recurring royalties, while giving Broken Hill Mines a cheaper, higher‑throughput tailings solution that meets tightening environmental and financing standards.

Key Takeaways

• Clean TeQ wins design‑build contract for 750,000 tpa dewatering plant
• Plant replaces solar drying, boosting throughput to 750,000 tpa
• ATA technology uses dual polymer system for sand‑like filter cake
• Polymer supply deal pending, to be signed within 14 days
• Filtered tailings stacking reduces permitting risk and insurance costs

Pulse Analysis

The mining sector is confronting tighter regulations on wet tailings storage, with investors and insurers demanding lower environmental risk. Traditional solar drying or slurry impoundments are increasingly costly and face permitting hurdles, prompting operators to explore filtered‑tailings stacking, which creates a stable, dry cake that can be placed in‑pit. This approach not only cuts long‑term liability but also improves water recovery, a critical factor in arid regions such as New South Wales. As a result, technologies that can deliver high‑solids filter cake at lower cost are gaining strategic importance.

Clean TeQ Water secured a design‑and‑construct contract from Broken Hill Operations to deliver a 750,000‑tonne‑per‑year ATA dewatering plant at the Rasp Mine. The proprietary ATA system separates coarse and fine particles, applies a dual‑polymer blend, and recombines them into a sand‑like filter cake with high solids and low moisture. By eliminating the need for expensive pressure filtration, the plant promises lower capital outlay and operating expenses while enabling the mine to reach its full processing capacity. Progressive payments and a pending polymer supply agreement lock in near‑term construction revenue and potential long‑term royalties for Clean TeQ.

The agreement positions Clean TeQ as a key supplier in a market where filtered‑tailings solutions are becoming a prerequisite for project financing. If the polymer licence is executed, the company could generate recurring revenue tied to the plant’s throughput, extending its business model beyond one‑off EPC contracts. For Broken Hill Mines, the shift from solar drying to ATA technology removes a throughput bottleneck, allowing the Rasp Mine to scale to its 750,000‑tpa nameplate. Industry observers expect similar contracts to emerge as more operators seek cost‑effective tailings dewatering to satisfy regulators and investors.