Emerging Australian rare earths producer Hastings Technology Metals and the Thiin-Mah, Warriyangka, Tharrkari, and Jiwarli (TMWTJ) People have reaffirmed their mutual commitment to working collaboratively to develop the Yangibana Rare Earths Project.
The company reports this follows a 5-year review of the Yangibana Rare Earths Project agreement. TMWTJ leaders and elders met on-country with Hastings leaders last week to review the agreement – signed in November 2017 following the granting of the TMWTJ People’s Native Title claim.
Hastings says the review was overseen by the implementation committee established under the agreement.
The company notes it is an important milestone ahead of the commencement of main construction at Yangibana, the review included discussions around employment, training, and business opportunities, as well as a review of appropriate goals and targets.
Hastings is a Perth-based rare earths company focused on neodymium and praseodymium concentrate (NdPr). NdPr are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets used every day in advanced technology products ranging from electric vehicles to wind turbines, robotics, medical applications, and digital devices.
Hastings’ flagship Yangibana Project located in the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia, contains one of the most ‘highly valued’ NdPr deposits in the world with NdPr:TREO ratio of up to 52% in some areas of the orebody.
