TSX-listed Aclara Resources confirms in a feasibility study for its Carina project, in Brazil, the viability of an 18-year operation producing 4 378 t/y of rare earth oxides.

This includes meaningful output of dysprosium, terbium, neodymium and praseodymium.

The scale of Carina’s dysprosium and terbium production alone can equate to 11.8% of China’s output in 2024.

Notably, Aclara completed the feasibility study just six months after the prefeasibility study on the project, which COO Hugh Broadhurst deems a significant achievement.

“The level of engineering detail is substantial, reflecting the considerable work that has gone into the Carina project from the beginning. We remain the only company in the world to report heavy rare earth mineral reserves from ionic clays in accordance with Canada’s National Instrument 43-101,” he states.

The feasibility study estimates Carina’s after-tax net present value at $1.7-billion and its internal rate of return at 26.9%.

Broadhurst explains the company has demonstrated its metallurgical process through a continuously operated pilot plant and that the feasibility study builds on such a foundation with a level of rigour appropriate to the significance of the project.

“Our path to market through our 100%-owned separation facility that is planned to be built in Louisiana further derisks the project and supports our strategy to sell reliable and traceable rare earths to high-end customers.”

Aclara’s supply chain is therefore firmly established on the American continent, with high-purity product and sustainable process design, coupled with an integrated mine-to-magnet strategy, being underpinned by engineering from one of the world’s leading firms.

The company will, however, continue working to improve its technology which, in the medium term, is planned to be applied in Brazil and other countries where Aclara operates.

Broadhurst concludes that the world needs an independent and reliable supplier of heavy rare earths – Aclara being built to deliver exactly that.