Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX: IXR) has confirmed the granting of approval from the Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) to commence activity for the Demonstration Plant at the Makuutu Rare Earths Project in Uganda.
Following on from the recent announcement on the positive Makuutu Stage 1 Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), the company, via its Ugandan subsidiary Rwenzori Rare Metals Limited (RRM), is progressing the construction of a technical facility at the Makuutu Mine Site required to validate and optimize metallurgical test work and provide a foundation for grade control, mine design, material handling, metallurgical reconciliation and scale up construction activity to support the commercial Project financing process.
As this represents a significant capital expenditure, prudent engineering management requires a suitable demonstration be conducted for a representative period of time in order to de-risk the entire process chain of MREC production from mining to transportation to potential customer facilities.
The Makuutu Demonstration Plant will be one of the first large scale ionic adsorption technical facilities outside of China and represents the initial phase of development at Makuutu.
The Demonstration facility will consolidate further metallurgical test work, including an extensive scale up program from 3.0m to 6.0m tall heap desorption columns and 6m tall heap desorption cribs, which will be conducted and signed off by a series of independent competent persons.
The technical facility will also include a nano-filtration (NF) test unit, precipitation circuits, drying facilities, additional metallurgical test capabilities, an analytical laboratory which will service an eventual full scale mine operation and offices and site infrastructure to support the overall demonstration programme. Additional facility test equipment has been ordered and is expected to arrive to site during this quarter.
Manufacture of the initial technical facility super structure has commenced, along with land acquisition suitable for the Demonstration Plant site location at the Makuutu mine site., A Ugandan construction partner has been contracted to complete initial access roads, site civils and construct the facility.
The second phase of the Demonstration Plant is expected to commence shortly after positive confirmation of the 6.0m tall heap stack height and will consist of a series of 5,000t heap desorption modules, which will cycle through various stages of desorption to produce REE loaded desorption rich pregnant leach solution (PLS) liquor.
From the REE rich PLS liquor, the company will produce significant quantities of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) for downstream supply chain partner engagement, facilitate off-take, plus also provide feed material to supply Ionic’s own downstream refinery programme.
“The commencement of the Demonstration Plant construction at Makuutu, plus approval to proceed granted by the MEMD in Uganda, represents an exciting milestone for the Project and the company,” Managing Director, Tim Harrison, said.
“The process of de-risking the operation and providing MREC samples is essential to the next stage of attracting supply chain partners and moving towards a Final Investment Decision on the positive outcome of the Demonstration Plant.
“With the Makuutu Stage 1 DFS now completed, and MLA progressing in Uganda, the support from the MEMD to approve progressing to the next step is a positive signal as well their commitment to sustaining an enabling environment and continued support for the development of the Makuutu Rare Earths Project.
“This Project will be Uganda’s flagship, long-life mine. We expect that as we progress through Q2, we will continue to receive positive support on the application, and greater definition on the role Makuutu will play in establishing a heavy rare earths supply opportunity to western end users.”
Makuutu Demonstration Plant Development Approach
A dedicated technical team has been assembled in Uganda to drive demonstration activity, working closely with the technical team in Australia, and further appointments will be made over the course of the coming months.
The Demonstration Plant construction and operation will be undertaken on a staged basis with the Phase 1 development incorporating the following;
1. Construction of a 780sq. m test facility which will house permanent mine infrastructure such as a metallurgical test facility and a mine analytical laboratory;
2. Incorporation of a demonstration scale agglomerator to prepare mine ore for heap desorption treatment;
3. A metallurgical test centre which will accommodate a suitable number of 6m heap desorption columns and several scaled up heap desorption cribs up to 6m in height;
4. Pregnant Leach Solution (PLS), Intermediate Leach Solution (ILS) and Wash Solution pumps, reticulation, collection and storage facilities;
5. Nano-filtration (NF) test unit;
6. Precipitation tanks and filtration equipment;
7. Drying ovens, bottle rollers, slurry pressure filters and other metallurgical test equipment;
8. The installation of a full-scale working analytical laboratory with the capacity to provide real time process information to support the operational management of the demonstration
facility;
9. Reagent and salts storage and mixing area with appropriate ventilation and handling facilities;
10. Services such as site power, water, storage and access roads;
11. Offices and ablutions to provide support for the demonstration workforce; and
12. Fit for purpose communications infrastructure.
Process Flow Diagrammes (PFD’s), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID’s) and Equipment Lists have been finalized and the laboratory design is completed. It is expected that construction of Phase 1 will be completed by late Q2 this year.
The Phase 2 construction of the Demonstration Plant will comprise the following key components at Makuutu;
1. Site earthworks;
2. The installation of three lined heap desorption leach pads, each designed to handle
approximately 5,000t of ionic clay material each, which will be cycled through various
stages of the desorption process;
3. A system of lined ponds, storage vats and leachate collection facilities,
4. Irrigation piping and feed pumping infrastructure;
5. RO/NF plant to assist with liquor management and pre-concentrate PLS, ILS and wash water streams;
6. Impurity precipitation circuit;
7. MREC precipitation circuit and a product drying facility;
8. Reagent and salt storage facilities;
9. Associated service infrastructure.
It is envisaged that the complete Demonstration Plant facility, including both phases 1 and 2 will be operational during Q4 2023.
For further information please visit: https://ionicre.com.au/
