Ionic Rare Earths (ASX: IXR) has appointed DRA Global (ASX:DRA) to support project delivery at its 60% owned Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project in Uganda.
DRA Global is an international multi-disciplinary engineering, project delivery and operations management group focused on the mining, minerals, and metals industry.
It has a strong track record in Africa spanning almost four decades across a range of commodities, with deep expertise in the mining, minerals, and metals processing industries, as well as related infrastructure such as, water, and energy solutions.
Speaking in the appointment, Tim Harrison, Managing Director at $102.59 million market capitalisation IonicRE, says the company’s focus on the delivery of the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project positions it to provide a secure, sustainable, and traceable supply of magnet rare earth oxides.
“Along with our Belfast recycling facility, the Makuutu project is key to us harnessing our technology to accelerate our mining, refining and recycling of magnets and heavy rare earths which are critical for the energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and defence.”
DRA has assembled a strong team from South Africa, based in the Johannesburg office, who will work closely with IonicRE’s recently appointed Chief Operating Officer Dr Tommie van der Walt.
Van der Walt has worked with DRA Global on several African projects including the US$2 Billion Ahafo Mega-project in Ghana.
He says: “DRA Global has successfully delivered several significant mining projects across Africa in varied commodities. DRA will identify any additional value and cost optimisation and ensure rigorous review of project parameters ahead of FID.
“Their positive attitude to challenging conditions and environments, as well as their professional approach to project execution, has served me well in my role as Director for various projects.”
DRA Global will focus on the optimisation of mining pit design and operations and conduct a detailed review of the stage one DFS and phase two of the demonstration plant.
A further objective is to identify potential opportunities for overall project enhancement and any further work required to attain the Class Two estimate accuracy (-15% to +20%). DRA’s scope of services encompass the following for the phase two demonstration plant and an updated DFS for the Makuutu Project.
Further, DRA’s services will extend to providing an in-depth review of the proposed mining philosophy and mining operation as well as an assessment and optimisation of the mine design for the Makuutu Project.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Ionic Rare Earths
