HDPE geomembrane liners for Beyondie SOP evaporation ponds

Overview

Kalium Lakes Ltd. (KLL) is a minerals company focused on developing the Beyondie Sulphate of Potash (SOP) project in Western Australia. Potash is a premium-grade fertilizer available in several forms, including SOP. The Beyondie project is designed to produce at least 100,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa) of high-yield SOP for domestic and international markets, with the potential to increase output to 120 ktpa through short-term, low-capital intensity improvements.

Production is based on extracting hypersaline groundwater from a sub-surface brine deposit and channeling it into evaporation ponds to recover the salts. Solmax has been involved in the project since the pilot phase in 2017, supplying high-grade GSE® HD geomembrane for an initial 100,000 m² area. This liner prevents brine losses into the groundwater. Final installation across the full site was completed in 2020, with the first SOP output delivered in Q3 2021.

SOP is not naturally occurring and must be produced by extracting potassium and sulphate ions from complex ores or brines via evaporation and/or chemical processing. Beyondie is an Australian SOP production facility and has been developed to meet local weather and environmental conditions.

Challenge

The project required a reliable containment solution to prevent brine seepage and ensure maximum product recovery. The remote location of the site in Western Australia added complexity to logistics, with large volumes of specialist geomembrane materials needing to be delivered from overseas production facilities.

Operationally, the ponds needed to perform under high UV exposure, extreme temperatures, and over an anticipated mine life of 30 to 50 years. The liner system had to provide long-term chemical resistance to highly concentrated brine while maintaining structural integrity in challenging climatic conditions.

The Beyondie project also required a tailored approach, with no direct local precedent to follow in terms of design or materials specification.

Solution

Solmax supplied its specialist 1.0 mm GSE HD geomembrane for the evaporation pond lining system. Manufactured at Solmax’s Malaysian production facility and installed by local lining contractors, the material was delivered to meet tight construction timelines. The complete pond network covers approximately 4 km².

The GSE HD liner provides an impermeable barrier to protect against seepage, safeguarding the brine resource and enabling efficient salt recovery. Its chemical resistance and UV stability ensure it will perform effectively for the duration of the project’s anticipated operational life.

By using this high-quality geomembrane system, potash harvesting at Beyondie can take place months – or even years – ahead of alternative methods. The project is designed as a low-cost, long-life, high-margin facility, with the lined pond system forming the foundation for consistent and efficient SOP production for decades to come.

Images courtesy of Kalium Lakes Ltd.