Minerals development company Namibia Critical Metals has signed a letter of intent with testing, inspection and certification company SGS Canada to start pilot plant testing on a 5 t sample from the Lofdal heavy rare earth elements deposit, in Namibia, in the third quarter of this year.
The objective of the test programme is to scale up laboratory flotation tests, including locked-cycle testing, for a higher level of confidence in metallurgy; to confirm engineering design criteria for prefeasibility study capital and operating cost estimation; and to provide a larger amount of material for hydrometallurgical testing.
“I’m excited about the progress our team made over the first weeks of 2023, both at site, with the various drilling programmes, and at the test centres, with further improvements on the economics and efficiencies of the processing flow sheet.
“This year is expected to be one of the most impactful periods in our corporate development as we continue to accelerate pilot plant testing through feasibility to production,” Namibia Critical Metals president Darrin Campbell said on March 2.
While developing the project, the company expanded its early learner’s assistance programme at the start of the school year. 200 school uniforms and backpacks were handed over by Namibia Critical Metals to five primary schools situated around the Lofdal project, as well as four schools in Khorixas and one in Fransfontein.
“We have been very involved in supporting our communities for over a decade with ongoing financial support for a local orphanage in Khorixas, providing drilled water wells for local farmers near Lofdal and now the start of our early learner’s assistance programme,” Campbell said.