Name of the Project
Gakara rare earths project.
Location
The Gakara mining licence is located within the north-eastern Kibaran belt, in the Bujumbura province of western Burundi.
Project Owner/s
Rainbow Rare Earths has a 90% interest in the project, with a nondilutable 10% owned by the Burundi government.
Project Description
Gakara is one of the highest-grade rare earths projects globally, with 47% to 67% total rare-earth oxide (TREO).
The project hosts a deposit with a very high run-of-mine grade, averaging 54.3% TREO for 141 853 t of contained TREO, with high-quality and well understood mineralogy.
The high grade of the vein material is expected to enable Rainbow to pursue a low-risk processing route. Owing to the minimal level of processing required, complex and expensive processing facilities and the use of hazardous chemicals will not be required.
Rainbow is fast-tracking the project to production and will produce a high-grade concentrate using simple mining.
Potential Job Creation
Not stated.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
Not stated.
Planned Start/End Date
In September 2017, Rainbow started ore extraction at the Gasagwe site and, in December 2017, announced inaugural production and sales of its mineral concentrate.
The Gakara project entered commercial production in the 2018 financial year, ended June 30, 2018.
Latest Developments
Rainbow Rare Earths has said that demand for its product remains strong, as the company shipped 100 t of concentrate grading 56% total rare-earth oxides (TREO) in October.
Rainbow expects production levels to be lower while the necessary works are performed to achieve higher production – the company is shifting focus from high-grade vein mining to a broader, mechanised operation.
To achieve the transformation to a mechanised operation, the company is undertaking detailed geological work to establish a drill area that will support this strategy.
The company is targeting a ten-year life-of-mine, with Stage 1 production of 10 000 t/y of concentrate grading about 54% to 56% TREO.
The company is also working to publish an updated resource statement, which will support the targeted production levels, early next year.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Obsideo Consulting (EPCM).
On Budget and on Time?
The project is firmly on track to deliver its first shipment of concentrate from the mine in the fourth quarter of this year.
Contact Details for Project Information
Rainbow Rare Earths, email info@rainbowrareearths.com.