Rare earths and critical minerals
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BRE Secures Monte Alto Trial Mining Licence
Globenewswire· 2026-03-25 12:30
Core Viewpoint - Brazilian Rare Earths Limited has secured a Trial Mining Licence for the Monte Alto project, marking a significant step towards commercial-scale mining operations in Brazil [1][7]. Group 1: Trial Mining Licence - The Trial Mining Licence allows for the extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum from the Monte Alto deposit, facilitating bulk shipments for potential customers and metallurgical testing [3][7]. - This approval is a crucial regulatory milestone that advances Monte Alto towards commercial-scale mining approvals [7][9]. Group 2: Development Strategy - The development strategy at Monte Alto is designed to be low-impact and capital-efficient, focusing on a quarry-scale operation with a small footprint and low water consumption [4][10]. - The project utilizes a dry processing flowsheet, which significantly reduces water usage and eliminates the need for conventional tailings dams [8][10]. Group 3: Future Milestones - The next federal permitting milestone for the company is the submission of an Economic Development Plan to Brazil's National Mining Agency (ANM) in Q2 2026, which is expected to be the final step towards obtaining a full mining concession [5][7]. - The pilot plant at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex is scheduled to commence operations in Q3 2026, linking upstream production with downstream processing capabilities [4][11]. Group 4: Environmental and Community Engagement - The approval reflects the strength of the company's permitting work and the quality of its engagement with local communities and government stakeholders [10][12]. - The low-impact development model of Monte Alto is designed to support a staged, capital-efficient path through permitting and development [10][12].