Rainbow Rare Earths achieves key objective with the start to pilot operations6 Jun 2023 10:00
Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd (LSE:RBW, OTC:RBWRF) has achieved a significant milestone in its development with the start of operations at its Phalaborwa pilot plant in South Africa.
Poised to produce its first high-value mixed rare earth sulphate by the third quarter, this development cements Phalaborwa's status as an important producer of magnet rare earths, vital ingredients in the growing green economy, the company said.
The project is divided into two operational phases. Currently underway at the Johannesburg facilities of the Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek), the first phase involves processing material from historic gypsum stacks at the Phalaborwa site.
This material is transformed into a rare earth sulphate, which contains substantial quantities of key rare earth elements used to manufacture permanent magnets. These elements include neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.
Once processed, the mixed rare earth sulphate will be shipped to Rainbow's separation plant in Lakeland, Florida, where it will be separated into rare earth oxides. This crucial step will solidify Phalaborwa's position as a near-term producer of magnet rare earths.
Simultaneously, construction for the second phase, the back end of the pilot plant at K-Technologies, Inc. (K-Tech) is also in advanced stages. This part of the plant will further refine the mixed rare earth sulphate to create separated magnet rare earth oxides.
George Bennett, CEO of Rainbow, said: "Work has continued apace on the Phalaborwa pilot plant and the production of the first mixed rare earth sulphate is expected shortly. This will affirm Phalaborwa as a strategic and near-term supply of the magnet rare earths needed to power the green economy."
He said the back end of the plant is also progressing well, adding that the team is assessing the possibility of locating the commercial final separation process permanently in the US.
"This would position the company as one of the first producers of separated rare earth oxides within the USA, which is urgently trying to establish a domestic rare earths supply chain, given the importance of rare earths to decarbonisation, defence and other strategic products vital to the 21st-century global economy," Bennett added.
https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1017035/rainbow-rare-earths-achieves-key-objective-with-the-start-to-pilot-operations-1017035.html
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