Nordique Critical Metals (TSX-V:NQC) is targeting a continuous demonstration plant in Q1 2027 after bench-scale testing returned rare-earth leaching efficiencies above 95%.
L3 Process Development completed the testing on mineral concentrate from the Kwyjibo Rare Earth Project in Québec, Canada, recording leaching efficiencies above 95% for neodymium, dysprosium, and yttrium.
L3 and SMH Process Innovation have developed a revised hydrometallurgical flowsheet that removes several processing stages included in Nordique’s 2026 preliminary economic assessment (PEA). Fewer stages could reduce equipment, energy needs, and construction and operating costs.
The PEA assumes about 75% overall rare-earth recovery and outlines an after-tax net present value (NPV) of C$1.40 billion ($1.44 billion) at an 8% discount rate, an after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 35.4%, and a two-year payback period.
L3 and SMH are evaluating whether recovery could exceed 80%, though this remains a preliminary objective outside the PEA economics.
Preliminary engineering discussions indicate the simplified flowsheet could shrink the plant’s footprint and power requirements to support a proposed production target of more than 10,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides a year, pending further testwork and qualified person confirmation.
Kwyjibo has an approximate 10-year mine life under the PEA, which outlines an underground operation with a surface mine footprint of about 2.67 hectares.
The project sits about 125km northeast of Sept-Îles, with the proposed processing complex near Rivière-au-Tonnerre on Québec’s Côte-Nord transportation corridor.
Nordique plans to return all processing residues underground as cemented paste backfill, eliminating permanent surface tailings storage.
To advance the flowsheet, the company is working with L3 and SMH to prepare about 400kg of non-magnetic concentrate for the Q1 2027 demonstration plant to assess extraction and separation stages and generate data for feasibility-level engineering.
Nordique Critical Metals is a Canadian junior mining explorer and developer focused on critical mineral projects in stable jurisdictions.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Nordique Critical Metals
