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
Morgan Stanley has said the project faces economic and execution risks, even after it received A$400-million ($258-million) of fresh funding from the Australian government.

Iluka is in the early stages of construction of the Eneabba facility and asked for government support after costs had increased. Government had previously committed A$1.25-billion in loans for the project, but Iluka said earlier this year it would not proceed with the development unless it received more funds.

Australian Resources Minister Madeleine King announced that extra funding would be made available, which may eventually total A$425-million, in a statement on December 6. The additional funding is subject to securing offtake agreements satisfactory to the requirements of the Australian government.

Eneabba is considered as an opportunity for the nation to counter China’s near-monopoly on the rare earths market.

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.