Hastings Technology Metals (ASX:HAS) has planned to double production capacity at its Thailand hydrometallurgical plant to 12,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of mixed rare earth chloride.
The expanded capacity will increase feed from the originally planned 5,000tpa to approximately 10,000tpa, delivering approximately 12,000tpa of mixed rare earth chloride output.
Hastings is acquiring a 49% interest in the Thailand MREC plant in Kabin Buri from Enuo Holdings.
The company says further evaluation of the plant design and project economics identified that an immediate increase in planned capacity delivers materially improved economies of scale.
“When we looked closely at the plant design and the economics behind it, given the level of interest shown by companies to secure binding offtake agreements of our MREC, it strengthens the case for upsizing,” CEO Vince Catania says.
“Moving to a larger circuit as part of the overall build plan, rather than bolting on capacity later, gives us a stronger cost base without duplicating capital spend later down the track.”
The expanded capacity results from strong inbound enquiries for MREC offtake, according to the company.
The plant’s modular design allows larger throughput to be incorporated into the initial construction scope.
Hastings has appointed Rwi Hau Lim as Project Manager to lead plant construction, commissioning, and testing.
Lim brings direct rare earths processing experience, having joined Lynas Malaysia’s rare earths facility in Kuantan as a process engineer in 2013.
HAS has secured additional monazite concentrate supply from Enuo, doubling the baseline volume from 5,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes per year.
First MREC production from the expanded Thailand plant is targeted for Q1 2027, subject to finalisation of revised transaction documentation, plant design, and relevant regulatory approvals.
Site mobilisation has commenced with critical structural steel materials now on site.
Hastings Technology Metals is a rare earths developer advancing the Yangibana project in Western Australia alongside the Thailand hydrometallurgical plant, targeting near-term downstream production.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Hastings Technology Metals
