Jaylon will provide, manage delivery and install 1mm-thick HDPE liner to cover an evaporation area of about 400ha for BSOPP's Stage 1 facility, which has a capacity of 90,000t/y. The work, which commenced in May, also included an initial order of A$1 million in liner for early works.

The contract follows a 2017 award Jaylon won for the supply and installation of the liner for the project's 10ha pilot-scale ponds.

"The use of Jaylon during the pilot-scale trials continued to validate Kalium Lakes' de-risking strategy, where we work collaboratively to develop bespoke, low cost and fit-for-purpose solutions for the BSOPP," Kalium Lakes CDO Rudolph van Niekerk said, adding the use of an evaporation pond liner has been a much debated topic.

In fact, for the company, the cost of the supply and installation of the liner at the project represents less than 7% of the project's total capital cost - but will result in an increased SOP process recovery of more than 15%.

"Our lined pond design provides a pond system constructed on trafficable, off lake surfaces, allowing for harvesting by heavy machinery months, if not years, ahead of the alternatives," he added.

"With lined ponds there is virtually no leakage of the high value concentrated brines, delivering excellent recovery rates, a smaller pond area, less brine pumping, low operating costs and an extended mine life…simply is a ‘no brainer'."

Beyondie, located southeast of Newman, WA, has an initial mine life of 30-50 years. It is targeting a 2020 production start date.