Aclara Resources Inc (TSX:ARA, OTC:ARAAF) announced the completion of a conceptual engineering study for its rare earth elements (REE) separation project.
The project, led by Aclara's US-based subsidiary Aclara Technologies, focuses on the separation of key rare earth elements, including neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb), all of which are vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other clean energy technologies.
Initial estimates provided by Hatch show a capital expenditure of $354 million and operating costs of $12 per kilogram of rare earth oxides (REO).
The study highlights Aclara's ability to achieve high-purity separation of rare earth elements, with over 99.5% purity for NdPr, Dy, and Tb, along with metallurgical recoveries of up to 94%.
The project is designed with strong environmental features, including full water recirculation and zero liquid discharge.
The separation flowsheet, developed in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Research Council, uses proven solvent extraction technology and incorporates advanced environmental measures, such as zero liquid discharge and significant waste reduction.
Aclara COO Barry Murphy told investors that the company is “positively surprised” by several synergies between its circular mineral harvesting process and its separation process.
“These synergies aim to optimize CAPEX and OPEX by reducing steps and simplifying the integrated flowsheet, effectively resulting in more competitive costs and expediting the time to market,” Murphy said in a statement.
“At Aclara we remain committed to becoming a reliable and responsible long-term supplier of heavy rare earths, providing the critical minerals that our planet urgently needs in its race against climate change.”
Aclara is moving forward with further studies, including a trade-off study comparing hydrochloric acid chemistry to nitrate-based alternatives for the separation process.
The company is also exploring site locations for the separation facility within the US and conducting metallurgical testing to refine CAPEX and OPEX estimates.