Name of the Project
Eneabba rare earths refinery.

Location
Eneabba, Australia.

Project Owner/s
Iluka Resources.

Project Description
Eneabba is the highest-grade rare earths operation globally.

It comprises Iluka’s stockpile of the rare-earth-bearing minerals monazite and xenotime, as well as the company’s Phase 1 (screening) and Phase 2 (concentrating) plant.

Phase 3 (refinery) will build on this existing operation to deliver a significant downstream infrastructure asset comprising roasting, leaching, purification, solvent extraction and product finishing.

Iluka’s refinery will produce the high-value rare-earth oxides neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.

The refinery will have a feed capacity of 55 000 t/y to produce 17 500 t/y of total rare-earth oxide and will initially be fed from the Eneabba stockpile. Potential future sources of feedstock include Iluka’s Wimmera operation and other deposits, as well as third parties.

Potential Job Creation
The project will have a construction workforce of about 300 people and an operational workforce of about 270 people.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Between A$1.7-billion and A$1.8-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
The refinery commissioning is scheduled for 2026.

Latest Developments
Iluka MD Tom O’Leary has said the company will not complete the refinery without more Australian government funding.

Speaking after delivering the group’s interim financial results on August 22, 2024, he said Iluka required an appropriate risk-sharing partnership with the Australian government to advance the refinery development.

O’Leary has noted that talks with the Australian government are “well advanced”.

Shareholders have been pushing for guidance on Iluka’s rare earths plan should there be no commonwealth funding forthcoming. O’Leary has stated that this will be addressed in an update planned for later this year.

Iluka has reported that it has struck a “prudent balance” of progressing critical path works at Eneabba while funding arrangements with the Australian government are being concluded.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Fluor Corporation – Mining & Metals (engineering, procurement and construction management).

Contact Details for Project Information
Iluka Resources group manager, investor relations and corporate affairs Luke Woodgate, tel +61 8 9360 4785 or email luke.woodgate@iluka.com.