MONTREAL, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQX: HPQFF) (FRA: O08), an innovative silicon solutions and technology development company, would like to update shareholders on the technology provider’s progress to date, PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX:PYR) (NASDAQ:PYR) (FRA: 8PY), while ongoing PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor (QRR) Pilot plant research and development phase.

HPQ GEN3 PUREVAP™ QRR PILOT PLANT R&D TESTING PROGRAM PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE
The GEN3 PUREVAP™ QRR The pilot plant is a unique, state-of-the-art prototype consisting of multiple systems that have to operate under harsh conditions and extremely high temperatures. All independent systems have been tested and are fully functional. The final phase of integration is now underway.

Therefore, PyroGenesis implements a meticulous approach to the GEN3 System from functional to operational. The operational development phase, which will begin in June 2022 and is expected to last up to twelve (12) months, can be further broken down into the following milestones:

a) Full system integration validation, about a quarter (1/4) of the time is devoted to this phase,
b) reactor start-up, this phase is allocated about one-twelfth (1/12) of the time,
c) Four (4) process improvement tests, approximately one-sixth (1/6th) of the time is allocated to this phase, and
d) operate the GEN3 QRR on a continuous uninterrupted production basis during the remaining time.

As with all R&D projects and especially with a new process technology, the schedule is subject to change. Pyrogenesis is confident that the program will allow HPQ to validate and quantify the projects previously completed GEN1 and GEN2 PUREVAP™ QRR Results of the test phase:

1. Produce higher purity silicon material than any conventional process in a single step¹,
2. That it can do this from sources of raw materials without …