Hoov, you wrote...

"It should be noted that the KWG technology has not yet been scaled up to the size suitable for commercial use. A substantial amount of engineering data is not yet available, data that would be required for a smelter permit application."

Hoov, my speculations are the following in regards to the lack of local chromite smelter to test the KWG technology.

If I was Frank ...while making my visits to China I would make a deal.

China smelts Chromite.

The deal would be this: Test this natural gas process on a large scale....and in return I'll drop the patent in China.

Look at this KWG NR below….from Dec. 14, 2017

Notice in particular two things:(what strategic local are they thinking of testing ??)

“The award of this Patent will enable us to now vigorously pursue an opportunity to further develop the process with pilot plant testing in one of the strategic locales that have been under consideration.”

and .....(notice China...has disappeared??) No patent application in China?? Why???? Look at the April 2017 NR from KWG and you will see China listed previously....Why was KWG so gracious to drop the patent there....what was given in return???

.Dec.14, 2017

http://kwgresources.com/kwg-allowed-canadian-patent-for-production-of-chromium-iron-alloys-directly-from-chromite-ore/

Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – December 14, 2017) – KWG Resources Inc. (CSE: KWG) (CSE: KWG.A) (FSE: KW6) (“KWG”) has received from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office the formal Notice of Allowance that a Patent for PRODUCTION OF CHROMIUM IRON ALLOYS DIRECTLY FROM CHROMITE ORE will be issued upon payment of the specified fee. As permitted, the Company intends to indicate upon publication of the issued Patent that it is available for licence.

“This is thrilling news for The Ring of Fire”, said KWG CEO Frank Smeenk. “We believe the direct reduction method can be combined with exceptionally low-cost Canadian energy to potentially provide this very large chromite discovery with tremendous production cost advantages. The method will also be improved by the further research work recently completed under the Chromite Research Project of Natural Resources Canada’s CANMET Mining laboratories. The award of this Patent will

enable us to now vigorously pursue an opportunity to further develop the process with pilot plant testing in one of the strategic locales that have been under consideration.”

About KWG:

KWG is the Operator of the Black Horse Joint Venture after acquiring a vested 50% interest through Bold Ventures Inc. which is carried for 10% (20% of KWG’s equity in the JV) by KWG funding all exploration expenditures. KWG also owns 100% of CCC which has staked claims and conducted a surveying and soil testing program, originally for the engineering and construction of a railroad to the Ring of Fire from Aroland, Ontario. KWG subsequently acquired intellectual property interests, including a method for the direct reduction of chromite to metalized iron and chrome using natural gas. KWG subsidiary Muketi Metallurgical LP is prosecuting two chromite-refining patent applications in Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and USA. The national phase filings are under review in each of those jurisdictions.

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Now from April 2017......Notice below that  China was previously listed .......Why was the decision made to not prosecute the chromite patents there??

http://kwgresources.com/marten-falls-kwg-to-propose-ring-of-fire-mining-partnership-meet-with-china-railway-fsdi/

KWG subsidiary Muketi Metallurgical LP is prosecuting two chromite-refining patent applications in Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and USA. The filings have been receipted in each of those jurisdictions.