Hastings Technology Metals has mobilised personnel and equipment to the Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia to commence early infrastructure and earthworks activities.
The Yangibana Project, covering an area of approximately 650 square kilometres, contains one of the most highly valued Neodymium and Praseodymium (NdPr) deposits in the world, with an NdPr:TREO ratio of up to 52 per cent.
Some key infrastructure works that will be undertaken at Yangibana include various site and roadworks, topsoil clearing, earthworks to construct a 2,000 metre unsealed airstrip, the design and installation of a 300-person village as well as communications and water infrastructure works.
These activities will be supported by an existing 60-person fly camp at Yangibana that will be used to house workers until the permanent village is ready for occupation early in 2022.
Hastings Technology Metals’ Executive Chairman, Charles Lew, said it is exciting to get boots on the ground and achieve a major project milestone for the Yangibana Rare Earths Project, a journey that began in 2014.
“Following the highly successful equity raising in February and underpinned by the good progress we are making to secure debt financing, Hastings has had the confidence to commence early infrastructure works at Yangibana,” Mr Lew said.
“The scope of these initial works is being carried out by the Hastings team, a credit to the calibre and experience we have built into our team over the past six months. Getting an early start will allow Hastings to manage the overall timetable to production of our first mixed rare earths concentrate, which contains high levels of neodymium and praseodymium.”
“We look forward to updating shareholders as Yangibana takes shape.”