Clean TeQ Water completes uranium plant commissioning for Heathgate Resources
Clean TeQ Water (ASX: CNQ) has successfully completed performance testing for its CLEAN-IX® U-Column uranium processing plant at Heathgate Resources’ South Australian operations, achieving the Clean TeQ Heathgate Uranium Milestone on 23 February 2026. The project, contracted in September 2023, demonstrates that all performance criteria were met or exceeded, validating the commercial readiness of Clean TeQ’s proprietary Moving Bed Ion Exchange (MBIX) technology platform for uranium recovery applications.
Heathgate Resources operates Australia’s leading in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining operations with a focus on environmental stewardship. The successful commissioning marks the transition from detailed engineering through to full operational deployment, providing Clean TeQ with a reference installation for future uranium processing opportunities both domestically and internationally.
Peter Voigt, CEO
“Heathgate is more than a completed project for us, it is proof that our MBIX platform is built for the new energy era. As electricity demand accelerates, driven by electrification, decarbonisation and the rapid growth of AI infrastructure, secure uranium supply is becoming increasingly strategic. This project demonstrates that Clean TeQ can deliver scalable, disciplined processing solutions that strengthen energy security while upholding strong environmental and water stewardship standards.”
Performance results exceed contracted specifications
The CLEAN-IX® U-Column achieved three critical performance outcomes that directly support the operational and environmental objectives of ISR mining:
- Improved uranium eluate grades and purity – Higher product quality reduces downstream processing requirements
- Reduced water consumption – Lower water use supports both cost efficiency and sustainability targets in arid operating environments
- Increased operational efficiency – Continuous processing capability minimises downtime and improves throughput consistency
These results validate Clean TeQ’s continuous ion exchange technology as well-suited to ISR operations, delivering higher uranium tenor while minimising water use. The performance milestone confirms the technology’s readiness for commercial deployment across similar operations globally.
What is Moving Bed Ion Exchange technology?
Moving Bed Ion Exchange (MBIX) is Clean TeQ’s proprietary technology platform designed for continuous counter-current operation in water and metals processing. Unlike conventional fixed-bed ion exchange systems that require periodic shutdown for regeneration, MBIX operates with moving resin beds that enable continuous processing without extended downtime.
The system achieves higher stage efficiency and improved resin utilisation compared to traditional approaches. MBIX can process streams containing suspended solids, a capability particularly relevant for mining applications where feed streams may carry particulate matter. The technology delivers lower water consumption, reduced reagent consumption, and significantly lower losses of target ions compared to fixed-bed alternatives.
The CLEAN-IX® U-Column represents a uranium-specific configuration of this platform, optimised for uranium recovery whilst retaining the core architectural flexibility. The same MBIX foundation supports multiple applications across critical minerals processing:
- CLEAN-IX® – Critical metal recovery (uranium, rare earth elements, base metals)
- DESALX® – Desalination and water treatment
- PHOSPHIX® – Phosphate removal and recovery
- cDLE® – Direct lithium extraction from brines
This platform diversification positions Clean TeQ across multiple critical minerals markets, reducing exposure to single-commodity price volatility whilst leveraging shared technological infrastructure.
Strategic positioning in the uranium sector
The successful Heathgate commissioning provides tangible proof of execution capability that can be leveraged in commercial discussions with other uranium producers globally. With rising electricity demand driven by electrification, decarbonisation, and AI infrastructure growth, secure uranium supply is becoming increasingly strategic for energy security.
Clean TeQ’s MBIX technology offers modular design and chemical selectivity, enabling tailored recovery solutions across diverse ore bodies and process streams. The company has established operational presence across multiple regions to support both current deployments and future project development.
| Application | Technology Platform | Target Market | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium recovery | CLEAN-IX® U-Column | Mining (ISR operations) | Operational (Heathgate) |
| Lithium extraction | cDLE® | Mining (brine processing) | Development |
| Water treatment | DESALX® | Municipal/Industrial | Operational |
| Phosphate recovery | PHOSPHIX® | Wastewater/Agriculture | Development |
Clean TeQ maintains offices in Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Leeuwarden (Netherlands), Beijing, and Tianjin, with additional partnerships established in Africa and Latin America. This geographic footprint supports both project delivery and business development across key uranium and critical minerals jurisdictions.
What comes next for Clean TeQ Water
With the Heathgate reference installation now operational and demonstrating performance criteria met or exceeded, Clean TeQ has de-risked its commercial proposition for prospective uranium clients. The modular design of the MBIX platform enables site-specific configurations tailored to varying metallurgical requirements, allowing the technology to address diverse ore compositions and process conditions.
The successful commissioning strengthens Clean TeQ’s track record in the uranium sector at a time when nuclear energy solutions are gaining renewed focus globally. The company is positioned to pursue additional uranium processing opportunities whilst continuing development of its broader critical minerals portfolio, including lithium extraction and base metals recovery applications.
The flexibility of the underlying MBIX architecture provides optionality across multiple growth pathways, supported by a completed reference project that validates both technical performance and commercial execution capability.
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