The promoter of a South Africa-based rare-earth elements (REE) project, Great Western Minerals Group (GWMG), has entered into a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a REE separation services provider.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based GWMG said that the MoU calls for ongoing technical support as the company reviews and advances the design of its planned production facilities at the Steenkampskraal (SKK) project, in the country’s Northern Cape province.
“It has been our objective to look at all alternatives that can get us to production sooner, lower upfront capital requirements and reduce project risk at SKK.
“This initial agreement sets in place the framework and com- mitment to continue discussions toward a comprehensive toll separation agreement for future SKK production. Completion of the MoU and the subsequent contract are substantial steps forward in fulfilling the mine-to-metals vision,” president and CEO Marc LeVier said.
GWMG said that it would continue to move permitting forward for its proposed separation plant at Vredendal, in the Western Cape, for possible future consideration.
GWMG has ambitions to become a fully integrated REE supplier and currently is a manufacturer and supplier of REE-based metals and metal alloys through UK-based sub- sidiary Less Common Metals.