Other Research & Development

White Energy also has the following additional areas of business focus:

  • Expansion of the BCB technology into new coal related applications
  • Identification of valuable mining tenements with natural resources and minerals or sub-bituminous coal reserves

Expansion of the BCB Technology

White Energy is currently undertaking research and development efforts to identify and pursue opportunities in expanding the application of the BCB technology.

Coking Coal

  • White Energy holds the exclusive worldwide marketing rights to the patented technology that seeks to upgrade low rank coal to coking coal using a carbonisation technology. Our research and development team has conducted lab tests are is in the process of developing a pilot plant, whereby low rank sub-bituminous coal is used as a feedstock for a two staged process whereby the coal is first dried and briquetted and then secondly it is carbonised and briquetted.
  • Metallurgical coke is the feedstock of blast furnaces, and its price is linked directly to global steel demand and presents a significant commercial opportunity for White Energy.

Processing of Discarded Coal Fines

  • White Energy is exploring the possibility of the BCB technology being used to briquette discarded coal fines so that they can be handled and transported like normal coal. This provides a solution to both an economic and environmental challenge for coal producers.
  • White Energy, through its joint venture company Black River Pty Limited, is seeking to prove up this opportunity in the African coal fines market. If successful, this process could be used throughout major coal producing regions such as Australia, the United States and China.

Biomass Briquetting

  • White Energy wishes to explore the possibility of briquetting a coal and biomass blend using the patented BCB technology. White Energy hopes to establish a laboratory testing facility in the next financial year to identify the possibility of briquetting a coal and biomass blend.
  • White Energy has received interest from a United States based research facility to scope this opportunity and identify the optimal process and temperature for the briquetting process to succeed.