Brazilian Critical Minerals (ASX:BCM) announced that it has signed a non-binding collaboration agreement with Southern Alliance Mining (SGX:QNS) to jointly evaluate the sustainability of the Ema Rare Earths Project in Brazil, to assess the technical, commercial, and logistical requirements for joint operations, and to negotiate commercial terms for future offtake.
Southern Alliance Mining owns 40% of MCRE Resources, who own and operate one of the largest in-situ recovery (ISR) rare earth projects globally, the Gerik mine in Malaysia.
The collaboration agreement will enable each party to identify high-value uses for the mine’s rare earth products and for the sale of the products as well.
ISR collaboration reshapes rare earths supply chains
As of August 2025, the Gerik mine had produced and sold about 20,280 tonnes of mixed rare earth carbonate product since commencing operations in 2023.
Brazilian Critical Minerals Managing Director Andrew Reid says that the MCRE project has demonstrated the potential for ISR to work at a large scale.
“What Ema represents is the next evolution — bringing that same low-cost, low-impact model into a Western supply chain as the only ISR applicable deposit known to date,” Reid says.
“This announcement expresses our joint ambitions to develop and lead world-class in-situ operations through a long-term partnership in the production of rare earth products with the world’s lowest CAPEX rare earth projects operating at the lower end of the cost curve.”
Southern Alliance Mining Managing Director Dato’ Sri Pek Kok Sam says that the collaboration presents an opportunity for the company to draw on experience from the Gerik mine and put that toward the Ema Project.
“The industry needs experienced operators who can collaborate to meet the world’s growing demand for critical materials. This agreement gives both our companies the opportunity to explore how we can play a meaningful role in achieving that.”
Brazilian Critical Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on rare earth projects in Brazil.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Brazilian Critical Minerals
