Highlights

  • Andromeda Metals has received a South African Patent covering its proprietary process for producing alumina from kaolin.
  • The grant is the first issued patent within a broader family of national applications linked to the company’s international filing.
  • The company’s HPA work in 2026 has also included continuous pilot-scale production at 4N purity.
  • Andromeda has continued commercial engagement around its HPA project, including a 2026 Supply heads of agreement for the United States market.

Andromeda Metals Limited (ASX:ADN) is an Australian company focused on industrial and critical minerals, with projects spanning kaolin and high purity alumina. On 6 October 2026, the company announced that South Africa had granted a patent covering its proprietary alumina production process, adding formal intellectual-property protection to its HPA development work and related commercialisation activities during 2026.

What the South African Patent Covers

The patent has been granted to Andromeda Technologies Holdings Pty Ltd, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Andromeda Metals. It protects a process designed to produce high purity alumina from kaolin and, according to the company, can also be applied to smelter-grade alumina production. Andromeda described the South African approval as the first patent grant from a portfolio of national applications derived from a single international patent filing.

How the Patent Fits With 2026 HPA Development

The patent announcement follows further technical progress reported by Andromeda during 2026. On 24 August 2026, the company said it had produced HPA at 4N purity, or 99.9986%, during continuous pilot-scale production. Pilot-scale activity is intended to demonstrate the process under continuous operating conditions before any larger commercial deployment is considered.

Commercial Engagement Around HPA

Andromeda also reported a Strategic HPA Supply Heads of Agreement on 19 August 2026 relating to potential supply into the United States market. The announcement did not specify product volumes, pricing or binding supply commitments. The arrangement therefore represents a commercial engagement step rather than a completed long-term sales contract.

What the Patent Does Not Establish

The South African patent relates to intellectual-property protection and does not itself confirm commercial production, financing, plant construction or customer demand. Patent protection is jurisdiction-specific, while the remaining national applications in the broader portfolio are still subject to their respective assessment processes. The company did not provide a timetable for decisions on those applications in the 6 October 2026 announcement.

Key Insights

Andromeda’s South African patent gives the company formal protection in that Jurisdiction for technology linked to its kaolin-based alumina process. Its significance is best considered alongside the company’s 2026 pilot-scale HPA work and commercial engagement, rather than as a standalone indication of commercial outcomes. Future company updates may provide further detail on additional patent decisions, technical development and any progression from pilot-scale work toward broader commercial arrangements.