Australian heavy rare earths developer, Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) has announced the official opening of the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earths Pilot Plant Project in the East Kimberley region of WA. The Project will be opened on Friday 27th July 2018 by the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Minister assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade. The Project is now officially the first producer of heavy rare earths (HREs) outside of China. The main products are dysprosium and terbium.
- Project will be officially opened today by the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC, Minister for Regional Development
- Opening is one year to the day since WA Premier, the Hon. Mark McGowan MLA turned first sod at site
- Browns Range becomes the only dysprosium and terbium producing operation outside China
- Dysprosium is a key ingredient in permanent magnets used in electric motors such as those in electric vehicles and wind turbines
- Three-year Pilot Plant Project aims to assess the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed larger scale project
Australian heavy rare earths producer Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) (the Company) is pleased to announce the official opening of the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earths Pilot Plant Project in the East Kimberley region of WA.
The Project will be opened on Friday 27th July 2018 by the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Minister assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade and comes exactly a year to the day since WA Premier, the Hon. Mark McGowan MLA turned the first sod to commence construction.
The Project is now officially the first producer of heavy rare earths (HREs) outside of China. The main products are dysprosium and terbium.
Dysprosium is an essential component in the success of the electric vehicle (EV) evolution. Permanent magnet electric motors are the key drivers of EVs and dysprosium is a vital ingredient as it reduces the weight requirement and allows operation at very high temperatures. Nearly all EV permanent magnets contain dysprosium. With EV demand expected to grow to in excess of 20 million vehicles per annum by 2025, it is a critical material in order for this momentum to continue.
As the only dysprosium producer outside China, Northern Minerals is well placed to become a significant, stable supplier of this important element.
Dysprosium and terbium are also used in wind turbines, industrial robots, air conditioning and many other new technologies which are in development.
The first stage – a three-year pilot plant project – will be used to assess the economic and technical feasibility of a full-scale project.
Browns Range is globally significant as it will provide an alternative source of heavy rare earths supply outside of China. With increasing momentum in the electric vehicle revolution, many offtake partners and downstream processors are keen to secure reliable supply outside of China.
Managing Director and CEO George Bauk commented,
“The opening of the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earths Project is nearly eight years in the making, since the initial discovery in 2010. “There are not too many times when a Managing Director can stand up and launch a new industry in Australia and this is what we are doing today.
“Australia is now a heavy rare earths producer.
“I am extremely proud of the entire Northern Minerals team as well as our construction partners that have helped make this project a reality.
“We are also particularly grateful for the support that we have received for the project from the WA State Government and the Federal Government. Projects such as Browns Range highlight the success of the Federal Government’s R&D Tax Incentive Scheme for stimulating the emergence of new industries. I note that the Government’s proposed changes to the R&D rebates would make it very hard to build this project had we been starting this financial year and ask the Government to preserve the current R&D rebate arrangements.”
