American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR) has appointed Andrew Conover as chief development officer, commissioning him to advance the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project through feasibility studies and towards construction.
The company created the new executive role to strengthen internal project delivery capability as it progresses the Wyoming-based project through its current Prefeasibility Study and planned Final Feasibility Study.
It also reflects ARR’s focus on de-risking Halleck Creek as a future domestic source of rare earths for defence, energy, and advanced manufacturing supply chains.
Conover brings approximately 20 years of mining project execution experience across the Americas, including leadership of a brownfield copper-molybdenum mill restart with a capital budget of approximately US$350 million ($500 million) at Elko Mining Group.
As chief development officer, Conover will integrate and drive the Halleck Creek Cowboy State Mine prefeasibility and feasibility programs, including engineering, project controls, risk management and constructability.
He will also establish the development and execution framework required to move Halleck Creek efficiently from feasibility into permitting, detailed engineering, and construction.
CEO Mark Wall says Conover brings the ‘real-world’ project execution experience needed as Halleck Creek enters its PFS and Final Feasibility Study phases.
“His track record delivering large, complex mining projects from study through construction will help ensure Halleck Creek is advanced as a buildable, financeable project that can move into construction as quickly and responsibly as possible,” Wall says.
Conover says Halleck Creek represents a unique opportunity “to help build a large-scale, US-based rare earth project at a time when domestic critical minerals supply is front of mind for government and industry”.
“I’m excited to join American Rare Earths at this pivotal stage and to work with the team and stakeholders in Wyoming to advance the project through feasibility and towards construction,” Conover says.
ARR also announces Dwight Kinnes’ retirement after making a substantial contribution to Halleck Creek, thanking him for his work.
According to the company, the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project is the largest known rare earth deposit in the US on a total rare earth oxide basis.
The company continues to assess the broader long-term potential of the overall property beyond the initial Cowboy State mine area.
American Rare Earths is a critical minerals company focused on advancing Halleck Creek through its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming Rare (USA).
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: American Rare Earths
