Mkango and Grupa Azoty Zak ady Azotowe "Pulawy" SA have agreed to work together to develop a rare earth separation plant in Poland.
Mkango Polska, a new Polish wholly owned subsidiary of Mkango, has been established and has appointed an experienced Polish national director, Dr. Jaros "aw P" czek, as well as rare earth separation expert Carester and a strong team of technical advisers and engineers.
Grupa Azoty PULAWY is part of the Grupa Azoty Group, Grupa Azoty is the second largest manufacturer of nitrogenous and compound fertilizers in the European Union and a major chemical producer. Its products are exported to more than 20 countries around the world, such as Europe, America and Asia.
The two sides signed an exclusive lease option agreement for the site adjacent to Grupa Azoty PULAWY's large fertilizer and chemical complex in Pulawy, Poland, which provides excellent infrastructure, on-site reagents and utilities, as well as an attractive operating environment, giving the plant a competitive operating cost position based on scoping studies to date.
The site is located in the Polish special economic zone and facilitates access to European and international markets. Production at the plant will enhance the safety of European supplies of rare earths for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other green technologies and strategic applications, in line with European initiatives to create stronger and more diversified supply chains.
Feasibility studies for the plant are being carried out in conjunction with Mkango's Songwe Hill rare Earth project in Malawi ("Songwe") and other opportunities, including Mkango's interest in HyProMag Limited, which is developing the production of short-cycle recycled rare earth magnets in the UK.
William Dawes, CEO of Mkango, said: "the development of the plant will highlight Mkango's unique position in the field of rare earths. Through our interest in HyProMag, our comprehensive extract-extract-recovery strategy, including sustainable procurement of light (NdPr) and heavy (Dy/Tb) rare earths from Malawi and (NdFeB) recovery of rare earth magnets from the United Kingdom, now has the opportunity to strengthen the establishment of a rare earth separation and downstream center in Poland through cooperation with one of the largest chemical and fertilizer companies in Europe.
The plant was originally expected to produce about 2000 tons of neodymium, praseodymium and / or praseodymium (NdPr) oxides and heavy carbonates rich in rare earths, of which about 50 tons of dysprosium and terbium oxides are produced annually. Lanthanum cerium carbonate is also expected to be produced. Mkango is evaluating marketing and processing options for heavy rare earth-rich carbonates and lanthanum-cerium carbonates. The plant will use state-of-the-art, traditional and proven technology and will benefit from excellent rail and road infrastructure as well as Grupa Azoty PULAWY's direct supply of the required processing reagents. It also has access to local skilled labor, on-site engineering and project development expertise, and R & D scientific institutions.
