Despite China’s tightening control on mining rights, there are six ion-absorbed-type rare earth mining projects, which have passed the environmental assessment at the end of last year. These new projects, involving medium and heavy rare earth elements, will be established in five southern regions of the country, which includes Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hunan province, respectively. In principle, due to local government efforts to actively promote the development of rare earth mining projects, the start of construction is imminent.
According to the Project Evaluation Report published by the local government, the six ion-absorbed-type rare earth mining projects may be briefly summarized as follows:
▲ Ganzhou rare earth integration project.
This project will be established in Rongnan, Ganzhou city, Jiangxi province, which is to be designed for the production of 27100 metric tons rare earth carbonate with mixed rare earth oxide at 7,783.97 metric tons (TRE2O3, with an average grade of 92% REO) per year as well as the service life of the project of 14.65 years, Ganzhou Rare Earth Mineral Industry Co., Ltd, the company with a total investment of 664.4 million Yuan.
▲ Pingyuan County Renju rare earth deposit integration project.
This project will be established in Pingyuan County, Meizhou city, Guangdong province. It is designed for the production of 2875 metric tons rare earth carbonate, equivalent the mixed rare earth oxide at 1000 metric tons (TRE2O3, with an average grade of 92% REO) per year as well as the service life of the project is 16 years, Pingyuan Huaqi Rare Earth Industrial Co., Ltd., the company with a total investment amounted to 72.88 million Yuan, including 7.118 million Yuan investment in environmental protection.
▲ Dapu County Wufeng rare earth deposit integration project.
This project will be established in Dapu County, Meizhou city, Guangdong province, designed for the production of 2377 metric tons rare earth carbonate, equivalent the mixed rare earth oxide at 500 metric tons (TRE2O3, with an average grade of 92% REO) per year as well as the service life of the project is 10 years, Dabu County Xincheng Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., the company with a total investment amounted to 50.62 million Yuan, including 13.66 million Yuan investment in environmental protection.
▲ Changting County zhongfang rare earth deposit development project.
This project will be established in Changting County, Longyan city, Fujian province, designed for the production of 673.305 metric tons rare earth carbonate, equivalent the mixed rare earth oxide at 134.661 metric tons (TRE2O3, with an average grade of 92% REO) per year as well as the service life of the project is 10 years, Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. (XTC), the company with a total investment amounted to 12.79 million Yuan.
▲ Chongzuo Liutang rare earth deposit development project.
This project will be established in Chongzuo city, Guangxi province, designed for the production of 233 metric tons mixed rare earth oxide (TRE2O3, with an average grade of 91% REO) per year as well as the service life of the project is 8–10 years, Chalco Rare Earth (Guangxi) Group, the company with a total investment amounted to 206.32 million Yuan, including 9.93 million Yuan investment in environmental protection.
▲ Jianghua County rare earth deposit development project.
This project will be established in Jianghua County, Yongzhou city, Hunan province, designed for the production of 3000 metric tons mixed rare earth oxide (TRE2O3, with an average grade of 92% REO) per year as well as the service life of the project is 7 years, China Minmetals Rare Earth (Jianghua) Co., Ltd., the company with a total investment amounted to 83.87 million Yuan.
The six new HREE projects, generally, will have a construction period of one year. These projects, when fully put into operation, will be able to reach an annual production capacity of 12,651.63 metric tons of mixed rare earth oxide. However, due to the Chinese government restrictions on rare earth mining and production volumes of rare earth metals, in the next 5–10 years, which will be expected to become one part of major supply sources of the medium and heavy rare earth elements in China’s rare earth market.
Not sure where all of that’s going, but i’m starting wondering if any heavy mining companies outside of China stand a chance with price of REEs going down, no secure funds and timing working against them.
Six new HREE projects getting underway in China with an estimated one year completion time. In the meantime the US can only draw up proposals and intiatives requiring government approval from legislators who just can’t find the time to vote on them. A 2016 completion date for a UCORE facility in Alaska is the best we have at the moment even though the Dept. of Defense is on record declaring the urgency of domestic production of heavy REE’s. Truly a sad commentary on America’s lethargy and conversely praise for China’s efficiency.
Head on over to China, then. I’m sure the commies would be glad to have you. While you’re in China, do check out the toxic waste lake at Baotou, emblematic of China’s vaunted efficiency, and not letting any do-gooders get in the way of efficient progress. But in the event you find that not everything is perfect over there, you’d better be careful, lest you make any disparaging remarks about the authorities, and then get to experience first-hand China’s efficient judicial system. If the Chinese system isn’t efficient enough for you, then you could head over to Vietnam, where everyone who does or say anything contrary to the commie master plan is properly dealt with, in the interest of efficiency, don’t you know.
What, I’m not being patriotic enough for you? I’m an investor not EPA inspector. BTW been to Vietnam already as a Marine officer back in the 60′s. Did you spend any time in serving your country? My prior comments were simply meant to point out the differences in how the two countries go about serving their respective interests as they impact share holders. Lighten up, sir.
I’ve just read that 90% of China’s fresh water. Formerly fresh water. Is polluted.
Yes, very interesting. However, with these projects coming on in a year’s time, what effect will that have on the already over-supply that seen shut-downs in the Chinese industry? As another reader says above, will these be viable at present prices – and won’t they just put further downward price pressure on the Chinese REE sector? And how do they play in to China’s wish to conserve its REE resource and not exploit it too quickly? And another point: how are these affected by the planned consolidation of the rare earths sector in China? Thanks.