Engineering Due To Commence With Initial Review
Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX: IXR) has awarded Melbourne based Mincore Pty Ltd the Engineering Manager role for the completion of a Feasibility Study (FS) for its 51% owned Makuutu Rare Earths Project in Uganda, Africa.
The company has commenced the FS and will now work closely with Mincore to complete the process plant and associated non-process infrastructure for Makuutu.
Mincore will work with the Ionic owner’s team to compile the FS report, which will be submitted to the Ugandan Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM) as part of the Company’s submission for a Mining Licence Application (MLA) by October 2022.
The engineering specialist will initially complete a review of the Project including looking for opportunities for CAPEX optimisation. Mincore’s appointment for the FS phase followed a competitive tender process, to select a contractor with suitable experience and capabilities to complete the engineering design as well as the subsequent oversight on the completion of the FS.
Ionic Rare Earths’ Managing Director, Tim Harrison, said Mincore has assembled a competent team to support the Ionic owners’ team, with direct experience in recently completing a heap leach project in elevated rainfall conditions and is also presently working on FEED project activities in Africa. He said Mincore is expected to be able to significantly assist IonicRE with rapidly advancing the FS activity utilising their extensive African network of specialty service providers.
We are delighted to have awarded the FS Engineering Management scope to Mincore. The team at Mincore presented a very complimentary skillset to the Ionic owners’ team, and their recent experience in similar technology applications provides IonicRE with some immediate optimisation opportunities worthy of consideration for Makuutu,” Mr Harrison commented.
“The company has made significant progress over the past few months, ensuring the optimal team is in place and work programmes are now underway to meet our accelerated timelines. This next six months will see a continued increase in activity, highlighted by the current drill program, which will greatly enhance the Project’s resource definition, key to unlocking a robust Feasibility Study over the next 12-18 months.”
The Makuutu Rare Earths Project is an ionic adsorption clay (IAC” hosted Rare Earth Element (REE) deposit located 120 km east of Kampala in Uganda and is well serviced by existing high quality infrastructure including roads, rail, power infrastructure and cell communications.
For further information please visit: https://ionicre.com.au/
