- Leveraging Proven Industrial Biopolymer Technology – MetaFLO has major industrial customers and proprietary technologies, accelerating product development and rollout.
- Targeting a Large Market with Three Initial Products – The JV will focus on copper extraction, high-value copper compounds, and tailings remediation to enhance efficiency and sustainability in mining.
- Joint Venture Terms – The companies will split ownership of developed intellectual property (IP) and profits 50/50.
January 30, 2025 – Vancouver, British Columbia – SUPER COPPER CORP. (CSE: CUPR) (OTCQB: CUPPF) (FSE: N60) (“Super Copper” or the “Company”), a mining exploration company advancing high-potential copper assets, is thrilled to announce that it has entered into a definitive strategic development agreement establishing a joint venture with MetaFLO Technologies Inc. (“MetaFLO”), a leader in industrial biopolymer technologies. Together, the companies aim to co-develop innovative, eco-friendly biopolymer solutions for copper extraction and remediation.
MetaFLO has a proven track record of developing and delivering solidification reagents and biopolymer solutions for industry leaders including major energy utilities, multi-national mining companies, EPB-TBM tunneling companies, roadway construction and environmental remediation companies. By leveraging MetaFLO’s expertise gained from developing multiple successful products across various industries, the Company believes the partnership is well-positioned for an efficient product development cycle.
Biopolymers in Application
MetaFLO’s biopolymers are unique. Organically derived from a proprietary bio-engineered source, MetaFLO polymers can be “manufactured” at an industrial scale with bioreactors that can be located in any industrial setting. In industrial applications, they are widely used in construction and tunneling for soil stabilization, and dust suppression—providing safer and more sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials. Biopolymers also enhance structural integrity in excavation projects and improve the management of drilling fluids in horizontal drilling and boring operations. MetaFLO’s unique biopolymers are also used in mining, to reduce cyanide usage and increase yields. These biopolymers also show promise in the remediation of suspended hydrocarbon and metal-contaminated produced water, potentially allowing for environmentally safe beneficial re-use. Biopolymers have proven industrial applications in addressing environmental and operational challenges in construction and infrastructure development, and their growing demand is reflected in the global biopolymer market, which is projected to exceed USD 33.8 billion by 2030 (KBV Research).
Focusing on Industry-Changing Biopolymer Products
Super Copper and MetaFLO propose to initially focus their efforts on three core product research and development areas:
- Biopolymers for Copper Extraction
- Enhance the efficiency of copper heap leaching by introducing biopolymers that boost recovery rates, reduce chemical usage, and create cleaner byproducts.
- Higher-Value Copper Compounds
- Develop biopolymer technologies to catalyze the formation of high-value compounds, such as copper sulfate and copper hydroxide, which could open additional revenue streams for existing mining operations.
- Tailings Remediation
- Design biopolymer solutions to stabilize and reclassify mining tailings, reducing environmental risks and enabling cost-effective site rehabilitation.
If solutions can be successfully developed with these attributes, they would assist in addressing key challenges in the mining industry by reducing environmental impact, optimizing operational efficiency, and supporting regulatory compliance.
Plan for Implementation
The joint venture’s development plan is divided into three distinct phases:
- Phase 1: Research and Development
MetaFLO leads R&D efforts at a dedicated research facility, to develop biopolymer products with applications in copper mining, leveraging its proprietary technologies and biopolymer expertise. - Phase 2: Pilot Testing
Initial pilot tests are conducted at mining sites in Chile chosen by Super Copper, to focus on real-world validation of the biopolymer products. - Phase 3: Commercialization
If the pilot tests are successful, Super Copper and MetaFLO intend to work towards launching the biopolymer products and offering them to copper mines seeking cleaner and more efficient operations.
Joint Venture Terms:
Pursuant to the definitive strategic development agreement, the Company has agreed to fund a budget for research and development, to be paid to MetaFLO in stages in accordance with product development milestones, as consideration for MetaFLO leading the joint venture’s research and development efforts, which includes providing and staffing a research facility.
Both companies have agreed to own a 50% share in the intellectual property of the resulting new technologies and share equally in the profits.
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