The Longonjo Mining Project in Angola has entered construction phase. UK-based rare earths exploration and development company Pensana Metals confirmed the report and said a sum of US $300million has been set aside towards the development.
Longonjo neodymium-praseodymium project is an open-pit mine producing neodymium and praseodymium. Pre-feasibility study (PFS) of the Longonjo project was completed in November 2019.
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The mine will feature a flotation concentration plant, a mixed rare earths sulfate refinery and will be powered using hydroelectricity. The firm has placed orders for project items such as tailings storage facility; power supply and substation; acid plant; calciner and dryers; flotation plant; reagents handling; comminution circuit; thickeners; earthworks and civils; filters & nano filtration; potable water supply.
Upon completion, the mine Longonjo mine is expected to produce 12 500 tons of separated rare earths including 5 000 tons of neodymium and praseodymium oxides per annum and treat 1.5 million tons of ore a year. Pensana Plc plans to export up to 40 000 tons of mixed rare earths sulfate from the mine for processing at its $195 million Saltend refinery facility currently being built in the UK. The mine is expected to have an optimal production timeline of 20 years
“Following the recent ground breaking ceremony we are delighted to have moved out of the study phase and into the construction phase for both projects. We now have a multi-disciplinary team of over 120 engineers working across both projects. The projects will be completed on budget and time while meeting environmental sustainability standards,” said Tim George, CEO, Pensana.
