London-listed Pensana has published a mineral reserve estimate (MRE) for the Longonjo project, in Angola, as part its feasibility study, finding a total rare earth oxides (TREO) reserve of 767 000 t, at a 2.55% grade.
Particularly, Longonjo contains 166 000 t of proven and probable neodymium praseodymium oxide reserves, for a mine life in excess of 20 years.
The MRE was undertaken by Snowden Optiro over both the Longonjo and Saltend refining operations, which are being built in the Humber Freeport, in the UK.
Pensana plans on having the Longonjo operation treat 1.5-million tonnes of ore a year, producing about 40 000 t/y of mixed rare earth sulphates for export to the Saltend refinery.
Snowden confirms that there are no perceived obstacles to any of the outstanding permits or approvals for both projects.