THE LAKE Way facility has started production of organic sulphate of potash (SOP) and is on track to commence commercial operation.

It is located around 150km east of Meekatharra in Western Australia, and is owned by SO4, which in October 2022 was bought by Czech-based company Sev.en Global Investments.

In a statement, Sev.en said SO4 was gearing up to produce more than 200,000 tonnes of SOP annually to become a significant Australian and global supplier of organic potassium-based fertilisers once its development phase is completed.

“This important step confirms SO4’s ability to conceptualise, design, construct, and operate the SOP mining and production facility at Lake Way to achieve world-class Sulphate of Potash,” Sev.en Global Investments Australian country manager Mark Sykes said.

“The project has faced and overcome several complex challenges, and Sev.en GI is looking forward to bringing it to full production.

“We want to establish this project to supply Australia’s agricultural industry and global markets with high-quality sustainable fertiliser, suitable for use in organic farming.”

SO4 owner Sev.en Global Investments has made considerable upgrades to the processing facility at Lake Way. Photo: SO4

Using solar evaporation ponds to harvest the potassium-rich kainite and carnalite salts, SO4 has made a major advancement in the sustainable production of SOP.

The Lake Way processing plant is currently being commissioned, and producing Prime High K Standard SOP containing 53 percent potassium oxide and less than 1pc chloride.

“SO4 has laid the foundation for success as a major Australian and global organic SOP producer,” Sev.en chief executive officer Alan Svoboda said.

“We will now support full-scale commercial operations.

“We are also open to opportunities to engage with long-term strategic market players who can fully leverage the market-leading and premium nature of the organic SOP product to maximise global market reach. “

Development of the Lake Way project started seven years ago.

Under current ownership, new flotation units have been key to managing the diverse feedstock going into the plant from the pond network.

Source: SO4

As outlined in a Grain Central article published in February, Lake Way was one of seven Australian potash projects in varying stages of development, and yet to commence commercial production.

The Lake Way project kicked off in 2016 under Perth-based company Salt Lake Potash, which went into administration in 2022 following commissioning  of the initial Lake Way plant in 2021 failed to lead to commercial production.

Evaporation ponds create the salts used as the feedstock for the Lake Way sulphate of potash project. Photo: SO4