St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ) has appointed a highly experienced in-country leadership team to drive its Araxá Niobium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and advance the company’s aim to build a globally significant niobium company.
Two senior Brazilian mining executives with extensive niobium experience have been appointed to key in-country positions as St George moves toward completing the acquisition of the advanced Araxá Project, which also has rare earth elements (REE) prospectivity.
Extensive experience
Thiago Amaral has been appointed as director, ESG and Technical Development and Adriano Rios will serve as consultant, Mining Operations.
They bring more than 40 years of combined experience in niobium and rare earths in Brazil across project development, mining, mineral processing, environmental management and product marketing.
Both are former executives of CBMM, the world’s dominant producer of niobium with mining operations immediately adjacent to, and in the same Barreiro carbonatite complex, as St George’s Araxá Project.
“A new era” for company
St George Mining’s executive chairman John Prineas said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Thiago Amaral and Mr Adriano Rios to our Brazilian executive team as we enter a new era for St George shareholders.
“Their deep knowledge of all facets of niobium mining, as well as the Araxá area and its community, will allow St George to quickly ramp up activities when we complete the Project acquisition in the coming weeks.
“With these appointments, St George acquires more than 40 years’ experience in managing mining operations in the Barreiro Carbonatite – including expertise in mine management, mineral processing, product development and environmental management.
“The unique skill set that Thiago and Adriano bring to St George will be invaluable as we progress our aim of building a globally significant niobium company.”
Project acquisition
St George remains on track to complete the acquisition of the Araxá Project in late September/early October 2024 following a general meeting of shareholders at which approval of matters relating to the proposed acquisition will be sought.
Significant high-grade niobium has already been discovered at the project with more than 500 intercepts of niobium grades above 1%.
This provides a strong foundation for the company to quickly progress to potential resource definition and potential permitting.
In addition to niobium, high-grade rare earths mineralisation has been confirmed by drilling over a widespread area at the project, which is in an established mining district with potential to access infrastructure and labour – factors that are favourable for near-term development potential.
Director, ESG and Technical Development
As director, ESG and Technical Development, Amaral will manage licensing and permitting for the project, implementation of ESG and sustainability programs and developing business plans for a commercial mining operation.
He was employed at the Araxá operations of CBMM from 2007 to 2024, occupying numerous roles culminating in senior leadership positions, including:
- Global Quality and Product Regulation Coordinator, 2008 to 2018 – responsible for quality system controls in processing and production, ISO accreditation, managing customer product specifications, customer claims and international regulation as REACH in Europe.
- Head of Sustainability, 2018 to 2023 – responsible for licensing, environmental management and ESG programs – including the closure and rehabilitation of CBMM’s Dam B4 at the Araxá Project, innovation in water and vegetation preservation, liaison with environmental and heritage agencies and investment in social programs.
- Business Development Manager in China, 2023 to 2024 – responsible for marketing new applications of niobium in electronics, casting and other products.
Amaral also served as a Professor of Engineering from 2008 to 2017 at the University of Araxá and the Santa Edwiges Escola Técnica.
He holds several academic qualifications including a Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical (UFU- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia), Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering (UFU) and a Master of Business Administration (FGV – Fundação Getúlio Vargas). He is completing his PhD in Materials Engineering (UFOP – Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto).
Consultant, Mining Operations
As consultant, Mining Operations, Rios will advise on metallurgical studies, review mineral processing options including the design of a flow sheet to potentially produce commercial products of niobium, rare earths and phosphate, advise on feasibility studies and the planning for the potential start of mining operations at the project.
Rios was employed at CBMM’s Araxá operations from 1996 to 2020, working in several roles including senior leadership positions in mineral processing and mining operations culminating in the Mineral Production senior management position responsible for seven departments.
Key functions included management of mineral processing systems, metallurgy analysis, product innovation, offtake specification, utilities and mine operations. In this role, Rios was part of the team in charge of establishing CBMM’s first rare earth processing and production capacity.
He was appointed by CBMM to serve from 2018 to 2020 as director of Operations at COMIPA, the mining joint venture between CBMM and CODEMIG (the mining company owned by the State of Minas Gerais) that handles most of the niobium and REE mining at the Barreiro Carbonatite.
Rios holds academic qualifications that include a Bachelor of Mining Engineering (UFOP – Universidade Federal de Ouro Petro), a Master in Materials Engineering (UFOP) and a Master in Business Management Administration (UFU – Universidade Federal de Uberlândia).
Strengthens capacity
St George says the appointment of Amaral and Rios to its Brazilian executive team strengthens its capacity to rapidly progress activities at Araxá post-acquisition with project planning already well advanced.
These appointments also demonstrate the company’s commitment to conduct its operations in accordance with best practice ESG standards, including implementing environmental sustainability programs and making a meaningful contribution to the community near where the project is located.