Australia’s Push To Lead In High Purity Alumina (HPA)

Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) has secured a 50% stake in Alluminous Pty Ltd, which recently acquired the high-potential HiPurA® HPA processing technology. The move is a step in Impact’s strategy to become a vertically integrated HPA producer and could shave years off its path to commercialisation.

“This acquisition represents a rare and strategic opportunity for Impact,” said Managing Director Dr Mike Jones.

The HiPurA® process, originally developed by ChemX Materials, delivers 4N purity HPA (>99.99%) and was acquired through a competitive process following ChemX’s entry into voluntary administration earlier this year. For Impact, the acquisition comes with fully constructed assets, proven technology, and a pathway to market that may be worth millions in time savings.

Accelerate Time to Market with Built Infrastructure

At the heart of this deal is a near-ready pilot plant capable of producing 25 tonnes of HPA per year. Most of the infrastructure is in place, requiring only modest capital expenditure to start generating sample products.

“The associated pilot plant … is nearing commissioning. This has the potential to accelerate the time to commercialisation materially,” said Dr Jones.

The immediate benefit is a sample production that allows Impact to fast-track customer engagement by 12 to 18 months.

Unlock Dual Development Pathways

The HiPurA® process does not just align with Impact’s Lake Hope Project. It also opens the door to an entirely new development route. The company now has two strategic options: back-engineer Lake Hope feedstock into the HiPurA® system or pursue chemical feedstocks to bypass mining altogether.

“HiPurA® may serve as a complementary addition to our Lake Hope Project, with plans to explore integration through back-engineering,” Dr Jones explained.

This dual-path model provides optionality in scaling production while managing risk and cost. With modular and scalable design, HiPurA®’s infrastructure can also be adapted for proximity to key customer hubs.

Gain Ownership of Real Assets and In-House Expertise

Unlike conceptual technology acquisitions, this deal delivers tangible assets: a micro-plant, a fully equipped HPA laboratory, and a proven pilot plant. Having this infrastructure in-house eliminates reliance on third-party testing—something Dr Jones sees as a major advantage.

“One of Impact’s key learnings has been the necessity of having an in-house laboratory, especially for pilot work,” he said.

The technical team includes the original HiPurA® inventors, ensuring deep knowledge and process continuity as development moves forward.

Build Strategic Global Partnerships

Alluminous is jointly owned by Impact, the HiPurA® inventors, and experienced North American investors. This structure is designed to balance technical continuity with access to capital and commercial networks.

“Our partnership within Alluminous brings together a rare combination of deep technical and financial expertise,” Dr Jones noted.

With backing from North American investors, Alluminous is exploring a future listing on a North American exchange and plans to scale commercial production offshore.

Keep Costs Low While Expanding Opportunity

Impact’s total outlay for the transaction is $1.1 million, half of the $2.2 million paid by Alluminous to acquire HiPurA®. This shared structure helps reduce financial risk while expanding access to expertise and infrastructure.

The acquisition also strengthens Impact’s position in Australia’s CRC-P research program, especially with membrane technology integration through Edith Cowan University. This alignment is expected to accelerate grant milestones and reduce development costs further.

The Road Ahead

Alluminous will now focus on demonstrating the HiPurA® technology at pilot scale before scaling up to commercial production in North America. If successful, the process could transform Impact into a competitive supplier to high-growth sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, and LEDs.

“This acquisition provides more than just a process—it gives us real assets, well-credentialed partners, and a faster path to revenue,” Dr Jones concluded.

With this move, Impact Minerals is no longer just developing an HPA project—it’s positioning itself as a future-ready supplier in a globally competitive value chain.