The Alba Sabrina claim is the largest of the five, salar located claim blocks which total 3,287-hectares of the 5,687-hectare Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Lithium Project) package. Pumping well PW23-AS-02 has been completed to 400 meters of depth and has encountered sand layers as the dominant texture throughout. PW23 AS-02 has been piped and graveled in preparation for long term pumping tests, with a screen length of 207 meters.

State-of-the-art down the hole geophysics has been completed by Zelandez (Salta, Argentina), a provider of specialized lithium brine technology. A profile of the well was completed and provides valuable insight into the hole potential. Test work completed by Zelandez includes the measurement of conductivity and temperature of well fluid, well caliber measurement, resistivity measurement, radioactivity measurement, ultrasonic wave measurement and nuclear magnetic resonance of sediment rock/fluid.

Based on this test work, total porosity averaged 21% ranging from 1% to 45%. The Specific Yield throughout the profile averaged 7%, with maximum values of up to 33%. Based on this information, the technical team plans to install a high-capacity pump capable of extracting brine at a rate of between 40 and 50 liters per second. Hole PW23-AS02 is in a key location and could provide substantial brine for production throughput.

“We are excited to announce the successful drill completion of pumping well PW23-AS-02 to 400 meters of depth,” says Adrian Hobkirk, CEO at Lithium South Development. “The geophysical profile conducted by Zelandez confirms the exceptional qualities of this hole location. Once the high-capacity pump test is complete, the company is poised to capitalize on the potential of this claim block.”

Lithium South owns 100% of the HMN Lithium Project located in Salta and Catamarca Provinces, Argentina, in the heart of the lithium triangle.

The Mining Group will be led by John Pascual P Eng, a veteran of Hayward Gordon with over 25 years of experience, and supported by a team of application engineers and technical specialists with extensive mining and mineral processing expertise.

Since it was acquired by Ebara Corp in 2022, Hayward Gordon has been strategically evaluating areas for growth and focus. Leveraging Ebara’s global presence with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and more than 100 sales and service locations worldwide, the Mining Group will ensure localized support and service to meet its global customer base’s unique needs and requirements.

As part of this new initiative, Hayward Gordon aims to expand its product portfolio through development, partnerships, and acquisitions.

“We are excited to announce the formation of our Mining Group, which marks a significant step in our commitment to serving the mining industry,” said Yusuke Nagatani, Hayward Gordon’s president and CEO. “With our strong leadership, dedicated team, and global network, we are well-positioned to drive growth and innovation in this dynamic sector.

Tsurumi has been supplying dewatering pumps right from the start of the project in 2016, equipping several construction sections with dozens of submersible pumps. At the end of 2023, the operators placed another order with the Japanese company which includes a series of pumps from the heavy-duty KTZ model range. This pump is one of the most successful in Tsurumi’s product range and was developed for use in tunnelling and mining. There are 17 types of this versatile submersible pump providing flow rates of up to 3960 l/min and a delivery head of 71 metres.

The Tsurumi units will keep the grounds dry and help to time the schedules. Three of the four new Metro lines run in tunnels. Each tube with a diameter of ten metres will contain two tracks. The tunnels are at an average depth of 30 metres and in the aquifer. Drainage is crucial for success as work can only continue when it is dry.

Tsurumi, which as its European headquarters in Germany, delivers from stock rather than on order: Almost all of the 500 pump models offered in the EU, with delivery capacities of up to 30 m3/min or 216 m head height, can be delivered within 24 hours.

The company, which has been headquartered in Lubbock, Texas since 1951, also operates a facility in Willcox, Arizona, and recently completed construction of a new state-of-the-art 35,000 sq ft engineered products facility in Lubbock.

Renovations will soon start on Simflo’s 40,500 sq ft Southaven facility, which is located on 3.5 acres. Located just eight miles from Memphis International Airport and 14 miles from the International Port of Memphis, its central US location and proximity to major shipping hubs allows Simflo to better serve its growing customer base in the eastern and southern US.

The project includes a complete interior remodel to modernize the office space, with all-new flooring, windows, ceilings and LED lighting. Simflo is also making significant upgrades to its warehouse, which will include bridge cranes, expanded exterior doors, and new concrete and exterior storage adjacent to the facility for easy commercial vehicle loading and unloading.

Simflo’s new Southaven location will be fully operational in early 2024. It will offer the company’s full line of high-quality vertical and submersible turbine pumps, as well as other parts and accessories, each engineered and customized to meet its customers’ specific application needs.

“We are extremely grateful for the tremendous amount of growth and success our company has experienced over the past few years, and none of this would be possible without the continued commitment, hard work, and sacrifices made by our talented team members,” said Troy Pickering, CEO of Simflo.

“Entering the greater Memphis region – and having access to one of the world’s busiest hubs for barge, air, truck, and rail cargo traffic – will enable us to better serve our customers,” said Woody Boyd, president and chief financial officer of Simflo. “This new location is ideal because it allows us to both receive and deliver products in an expedited manner.”

Simflo engineers, manufactures, sources, and delivers pump products and technologies for major industrial users, including municipal water services, manufacturing, mining, chemicals, hydrocarbons, saltwater extraction, and agricultural applications.

The CoE will support government and local companies to upskill their operations, which ties in with the Saudi 2030 Vision of enhanced economic growth, technical progress and sustainability.

The facility covers the process industries – oil and gas, mining, metals and water – focusing on increasing the pace of the digital transformation and optimizing maintenance operations for industry.

The Center of Excellence will feature two interactive zones. The first takes the visitor on a digital journey explaining how technology can enhance maintenance operations using a pump as an example. Using Microsoft HoloLens and a smartphone, visitors will be guided through a seamless experience of repairing and maintaining a pump. This experience will utilize Vuforia – an augmented reality solution, the IOT platform, ThingWorx, Kepware – a sensor connection solution, and Fiix, a computerized maintenance management system, which all link back to the ERP system.

The second zone, dedicated to the oil and gas sector, brings the connected oilfield to life with three interactive demos that highlight the production improvements available through intelligent automation.

The first demo highlights electric submersible pump (ESP) diagnostics, testing and forecasting. Visitors will be able to view how the data from five wells is collected, analyzed and vital insights gained using Avalon – the open technology platform that underpins Sensia’s new breed of autonomic, automated, and connected solutions, Avocet – production operation software that provides a field-level decision support system, and OFM – the well and reservoir analysis software.

The second demo showcases production back allocation and waterflood management for naturally flowing wells. It utilizes Avalon for data set visualization and monitoring before showing how Avocet takes that data and executes workflows. The final section will show how water flood management can be effectively controlled using OFM.

The final demo will show how Avalon and Eye Met can be used for custody transfer and managing live uncertainty on the platform.

“Rockwell Automation has been working in Saudi Arabia for several decades supporting local companies with automation and control technology,” said Hussain Al Khater, managing director for Rockwell Automation in Saudi Arabia. “With the opening of the Center of Excellence we will enhance the support for Saudi Arabia’s vision to have more technology companies located in the Kingdom. We will be physically on the ground to support our customers’ technology transition; they can come and visit the center to learn how Rockwell automation can guide them in their digital transformation.”