Vital Metals (ASX:VML) has announced the appointment of David Herlihy as an independent non-executive director, effective immediately, as it advances work at the Nechalacho Rare Earths and Niobium Project in Canada.
Herlihy has held board and executive roles across ASX-listed companies, state-owned enterprises, and large private businesses, with experience in funding, acquisitions, strategy, and governance. He previously served as chairman of Mosaic Oil (ASX:MOS), Pro-Pac Packaging (ASX:PPG), and Fraser Range Holdings.
Chairman Alexius Chan says Herlihy joins as Vital progresses three programs at Nechalacho: a Prefeasibility Study for the Tardiff deposit, district-scale exploration, and the North T demonstration project.
“David has spent his career funding and governing companies through exactly this kind of shift, which will add significant value to VML,” Chan says.
Vital says it is targeting completion of the Tardiff Prefeasibility Study by February 2027. The work will include an updated mineral resource estimate, which the company intends to use to assess potential growth beyond the existing resource.
The company is also evaluating six undrilled exploration targets and progressing stockpile processing through the North T demonstration project, which it says could generate near-term cash flow.
Herlihy says he was attracted to Vital by Nechalacho’s development plans.
“What drew me to Vital is a high-grade deposit with a clear path to development, and the potential for early cash flow along the way. It’s an exciting stage to be joining, and I’m looking forward to helping the team move the project forward,” Herlihy says.
Nechalacho lies approximately 100km southeast of Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
The project hosts a mineral resource estimate of 192.7 million tonnes (Mt) @ 1.30% total rare earth oxides, comprising 144.1Mt inferred, 41Mt indicated, and 7.6Mt measured.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Vital Metals
