Terres rares : Exploration et production miniére

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 29 novembre 2025 : http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 9#p2418849

Angola : Pensana annonce un investissement de 165 millions $ pour sa mine de terres rares

Agence Ecofin 05 mars 2025

En décembre 2025, Pensana annonçait la conclusion d’un accord destiné à financer le développement de sa future mine de terres rares Longonjo, en Angola. L’objectif est de faire avancer les travaux dans le temps pour une mise en production en 2027.

La société minière britannique Pensana a annoncé, mercredi 4 mars, avoir trouvé un accord avec un investisseur stratégique pour un financement de 165 millions de dollars destiné à soutenir le développement de son projet Longonjo, en Angola. Ces fonds doivent permettre d’accélérer les travaux de construction sur cet actif bien placé pour devenir la première mine de terres rares du pays d’Afrique centrale.

L’initiative avait déjà été rendue publique en décembre 2025, Pensana évoquant alors un investissement de 100 millions de dollars de Cascade Natural Resources, la société d’investissement engagée dans la transaction. C’est ce montant qui a été porté à la hausse dans le cadre du nouvel accord ainsi annoncé, lequel prévoit notamment en échange l’entrée de cet acteur au capital de la compagnie à hauteur de 3,8 % de parts.

Pour Pensana, ce développement s’inscrit dans la mise en œuvre de sa stratégie visant à établir une chaîne d’approvisionnement en terres rares orientée vers les États-Unis, grâce à la future production de Longonjo. Entrée en phase de construction en mai 2025, cette mine est programmée pour une mise en production en 2027. Elle devrait livrer à terme 20 000 tonnes par an de carbonate de terres rares mixte (MREC), un composé utilisé dans la chaîne de valeur des aimants permanents et des batteries.

« L’investissement stratégique permettrait la construction de la mine de Longonjo, y compris la mise en œuvre du programme de forage récemment annoncé et de l’installation de récupération des terres rares lourdes, les premières initiatives de développement en aval […], ainsi que tous les frais généraux en amont de la première production de Longonjo prévue pour 2027 », explique Pensana dans son communiqué.

Si l’accord nouvellement annoncé constitue une avancée pour le projet, sa concrétisation reste encore à valider. Les deux parties doivent en effet finaliser la documentation définitive de la transaction avant tout décaissement des fonds.

Parallèlement, Pensana poursuit ses démarches pour mobiliser des financements complémentaires, notamment à travers un accord en cours avec la banque d’import-export américaine US EXIM. Elle bénéficie aussi du soutien du fonds souverain angolais FSDEA, qui figure parmi ses principaux actionnaires pour le compte de l’État.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites ... rres-rares

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Un prospect de terres rares en Australie :

Critica starts air core drilling at Jupiter rare earth project
Discovered in late 2023, the Jupiter Project is described as a clay-hosted rare earth deposit with a stated global resource of 1.8bt.

Shree Mishra February 25, 2026

ritica has begun an air core (AC) drilling programme at the Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Western Australia’s (WA) Yalgoo mining district as part of an ongoing scoping study.

The initiative aims to upgrade key areas of the existing inferred mineral resource to the indicated classification.
..................

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... t/?cf-view

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Un prospect de terres rares et niobium au Brésil :

St George hikes resource estimate at Brazil rare earths project by 75%

Reuters | March 2, 2026

Australia’s St George Mining said on Monday that the estimated amount of mineral resources at its Araxa rare earths-niobium project in Brazil has been upgraded by 75%.


The estimate is a result of studies that the mining firm started in July, 2025, said St George, which fully owns the project, in a statement.

The mineral resource estimate (MRE) of the project was seen at 70.91 million metric tons from previous about 40 million tons, the firm said.

Rare earths content as measured by total rare earth oxide (TREO) was at 4.06%, while niobium content (Nb₂O₅) was at 0.62%, it said.


The MRE “includes niobium that occurs in the same cells as that TREO”, it said, noting a separate modelling indicated further 24.56 million tons of niobium could be included.

The estimates were made following the international JORC 2012 standard, and modeled by SRK Consulting, according to the statement.

The estimates could further increase since they do not include 41 drill holes concluded, 50 planned and the East Araxa discovery, the firm said.

https://www.mining.com/web/st-george-hi ... ect-by-75/

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suite de ce post du 15 fev 2026 : http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 2#p2421742

Critical Metals to advance Tanbreez project in Greenland
The plan advances exploration, infrastructure, engineering and metallurgy to transition Tanbreez into development.

11 March, 2026

Critical Metals has approved a $30m programme to expedite the development of the Tanbreez heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) project in Greenland towards production.

The initiative focuses on one of the largest known rare earth deposits globally, with the start of ore production anticipated in late 2028 or early 2029 and concentrate exports by the third quarter of 2029.

The company, which operates in the critical minerals mining sector, is responding to increased global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) driven by growth in electrification, renewable energy and advanced technology manufacturing.

It envisions Tanbreez as a significant source of HREEs for Western markets.

The $30m plan involves advancing exploration, infrastructure, engineering and metallurgical processes essential for transitioning Tanbreez from exploration to development stages.

These include a $12.5m investment in exploration by 2026, up to 6,000m of drilling, resource expansion from 45 million tonnes (mt) to approximately 130mt and bulk sampling for pilot plant feedstock.

Additionally, around $15m will be allocated for infrastructure acquisitions in Greenland and Australia, along with advanced metallurgical testing and integrated engineering programmes conducted with international consultants.

These activities are contingent on approvals from the Greenland Government.

The acceleration plan builds on previous achievements by Critical Metals, including exploration campaigns in 2024 and 2025 that yielded high-grade assay results.

Furthermore, strategic discussions with partners in the US, Europe and Saudi Arabia aim to establish Western supply chains for REEs.

In June 2025, the company secured a $120m letter of interest (LoI) from EXIM Bank for project development and financing.

The 2026 field programme intends to expand the resource base and prepare Tanbreez for initial production stages.

Objectives include extensive drilling at the Hill Zone deposit, exploration in the Upper Fjord area, resource upgrades, geotechnical drilling for port development and bulk sampling for pilot plant processing.

Critical Metals CEO Tony Sage said: “The board’s approval of this $30m acceleration programme marks an important step forward in unlocking the enormous potential of the Tanbreez rare earth deposit.

“Over the past 18 months our team has systematically advanced the project through exploration success, strategic partnerships and infrastructure development.”

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/c ... greenland/