Rare earth products
Rare earths are a critical component in the manufacture of clean energy and high-end technology solutions. Iluka's rare earth products include:
The Eneabba Stockpile
Rare earth-bearing minerals are routinely produced through Iluka’s mineral sands processing activities. Currently, Iluka has 1 million tonnes of stockpiled concentrate, rich in both light and heavy rare earths, at Eneabba in Western Australia.
Concentrate continues to be added to the Eneabba stockpile from Iluka's Narngulu mineral separation plant near Geraldton, Western Australia.
Iluka's Rare Earths Refinery
Iluka is constructing a rare earths refinery adjacent to the Eneabba stockpile. The refinery will be able to process both Iluka’s and third parties' rare earth concentrates to deliver a sustainable supply of these critical minerals.
The zero-liquid discharge design of the refinery will enable reagents and water used in processing to be recycled and reused.
Iluka’s refinery will be one of few facilities globally that will produce both light and heavy rare earth oxides, a key material in high performance permanent magnets.
Operating under Australian environmental, social and governance regulations, all stages of refining will be completed at Eneabba, Western Australia.
The Eneabba refinery will be a state-of-the-art facility able to process a range of feedstocks, including those from third party producers.
The refinery will have a total production capacity of up to 23,000* tonnes of rare earth oxides each year, including up to 5,500tpa of NdPr oxide and 725tpa of Dy/Tb oxide.
*Subject to feedstock used
Supported by a A$1.65 billion non-recourse loan from the Australian Government, the refinery is currently under construction.
A sustainably mined and secure supply of rare earths
Iluka’s rare earths refinery in Australia will achieve an independent supply of rare earth oxides, essential to global electrification and decarbonisation.
The highly valuable rare earths cohabitate with Iluka’s mineral sands deposits and are separated into concentrated rare earth minerals as a normal part of mineral sands processing. These rare earth minerals, monazite and xenotime, are stored in advance of additional processing steps at Iluka’s operation in Eneabba in Western Australia. This is the world’s highest-grade rare earths operation.
Iluka is building Australia’s first fully-integrated rare earths refinery which will have the capability to produce both light and heavy rare earth oxides. This provides customers with a new source of rare earth products sourced directly from one producer operating as an independent market participant. As Iluka’s rare earth products are produced as a co-product of Iluka’s mineral sands products, they will offer a significantly lower mining footprint in comparison to many existing producers.
POWERING THE ENERGY REVOLUTION
Recognising the sustainability benefits associated with the production of its rare earths, and their use in sustainable and renewable applications such as electric vehicles and wind turbines, Iluka’s suite of rare earth products is sold under the label puRE.
For further information, contact one of Iluka’s representatives through the enquiry button below.
