Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX:NTU) has appointed GR Engineering Services Ltd (ASX:GNG) (GRES) and MACA Interquip (MIQ) to conduct an early contractor involvement (ECI) scope for the beneficiation plant at its Browns Range Project in northern Western Australia
This requires the contractors to perform all engineering and design activities required to enter into an executable lump sum engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the delivery of the beneficiation plant.
Work has begun and completion of the ECI is anticipated during the June quarter of 2023, with the final preferred EPC contractor being notified during the September quarter.
"Highest-grade dysprosium and terbium orebody"
Northern Minerals executive chairman Nick Curtis said: “Letting of these contracts is a significant step towards updating the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for a commercial-scale beneficiation plant at Browns Range, centred initially on our Wolverine resource, which we believe is the highest-grade dysprosium and terbium orebody in Australia,”
“Dysprosium and terbium are critical minerals used in the manufacture of rare earth permanent magnets, particularly in high-end clean energy products such as wind turbines and electric vehicle motors”.
About the company
Northern Minerals owns 100% of the Browns Range Project in northern Western Australia, tenements uniquely rich in the heavy rare earth elements dysprosium and terbium.
The project's flagship deposit is Wolverine, which is thought to be the highest-grade dysprosium and terbium orebody in Australia.
The company is preparing to bring Wolverine into production with the objective of providing a reliable alternative source of dysprosium and terbium to production sourced from China.
Northern Minerals is one of only a few companies outside of China to have produced these heavy rare earth elements.