Refining Processes and Resale Optimization
Ore is processed either through the direct sale of raw material at the station—yielding an immediate but smaller profit—or through processing on the refining deck of an L1 station. Refining involves initiating parallel work orders that apply different processes, each of which affects the speed, cost, and final yield of pure material. Once processing is complete, the operator maximizes their aUEC earnings by comparing market prices across the system’s various trading kiosks in order to sell the refined ore at the best price.
Module content
Ore harvesting is just one step in the mining process. To convert the cargo into credits (aUEC), the operator must choose between selling the raw product immediately or processing it at a refinery to achieve higher profitability.
Direct Resale vs. Refining
Once the cargo hold is full, you have two commercial options:
- Direct Sale of Raw Ore: Raw ore can be sold immediately at various stations, outposts, or towns. This option offers a quick return on investment but yields significantly lower profits.
- Refinery Processing: By transporting your cargo to the refinery deck of an L1 space station, you can smelt and purify the raw material. This additional step allows you to resell the refined ore at much higher prices.
Selection of the Refining Process and Work Orders
Refining is not a uniform process. At refining stations, you can choose from several processing methods, each offering a specific trade-off between three variables:
- Processing speed: The time required to complete the transformation.
- The cost of the operation: The amount in aUEC required to execute the process.
- Yield: The percentage of pure ore recovered at the end of the process.
It is possible to initiate multiple work orders simultaneously. This allows for the simultaneous processing of different types of ore using distinct refining methods tailored to each resource.
Resale Logistics and Profit Maximization
Once a work order has been completed, the refined material must be sold on the market:
- Sales at Kiosks: Refined ore is sold directly at the system's trade kiosks.
- Price Analysis: Purchase prices vary from one sales outlet to another depending on the type of ore. Savvy operators should compare prices across the entire system and select the right buyer at the right time to maximize their aUEC earnings.
Validation exam
Exam locked
Complete the previous module to unlock this exam.