PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has finalised its environmental approval for the hydrometallurgical plant at rare earths miner Hastings Technology Metals’ Yangibana rare earths project, in Western Australia.
DAWE has given Hastings approval to proceed with constructing the Onslow rare earths plant at the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area (ANSIA), some 15 km southwest of the coastal town of Onslow.
The plant will perform the hydrometallurgical processing of rare earth oxide concentrate from Yangibana into mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) containing high levels of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) concentrate.
Construction of the hydrometallurgical plant is due to begin in 2022, after the completion of early works at Yangibana mine site and in line with Hastings’ target to produce its first MREC in early 2024.
“This is a significant milestone for our Yangibana Rare Earths Project and further endorses Hastings’ decision last year to decouple the processing plant from the Yangibana mine site,” said Hastings executive chairperson Charles Lew.
“The Commonwealth environmental approval will allow Hastings to construct the Onslow rare earths plant for a full production rate of 15 000 t/y of MREC, unlocking the high-quality and NdPr-rich rare earths carbonate that we will produce at Yangibana.
“Importantly, the Commonwealth approval is another positive step in Hastings’ journey to become Australia’s next rare earths producer. Debt financing talks are advancing well and scheduled for conclusion before the end of this year and early stage civil works at the Yangibana mine site are in progress.”