PyroGenesis Canada Inc. announced that, further to its press release dated April 20th, which provided an update on its Aluminum Business offerings, the Company has undertaken a joint initiative (the “Agreement”) with a premier applied engineering and process optimization firm (the “Client”) in the global aluminum industry. This Agreement is focused on utilizing PyroGenesis' zero-emission plasma torches in carbon anode baking – a vital upstream step in the aluminum production process. The name of the Client remains anonymous for confidentiality reasons.

PyroGenesis' 150KW plasma torch will be placed inside a pilot system at the Client's renowned research center. This pilot system has been used to conduct optimization tests for many of the world's top aluminum producers. The Client is one of the world's leading consulting engineering firms specifically focused on the optimization and improvement of furnace and furnace combustion processes at aluminum plants.

In particular, the Client is focused on improving processes, lowering costs, and improving the quality of carbon anodes – the conductive material used in the electrolytic production of primary aluminum. In aluminum production, a smelter needs approximately 425 kg of carbon anode – which is consumed during the smelting process – to produce one ton of primaryaluminum. The demand for anodes is so significant that several stand-alone manufacturers of high-grade anodes, as well as anode baking systems, are on-site at major aluminum producers and in constant operation – baking new anodes, of up to 6 feet in length and weighing 1.2 tons each1,2. As a result, improving and optimizing this anode baking process is a key objective in the industry, and the Client considers PyroGenesis' plasma torches as part of that solution set.

Under the scope of this agreement, the performance of PyroGenesis' plasma torches will be analyzed, and the temperature distributions and flame characteristics will be determined. The results will provide third-party validation of the potential in replacing conventional oil and gas burners in carbon anode baking facilities with PyroGenesis' plasma torches.