Critical Metals Corp. has approved the construction of a pilot plant and multiuse storage facilities to support the development of its Tanbreez rare earths project in southern Greenland.
The multipurpose storage, housing and pilot-plant facilities, which the company described as “Arctic-grade,” represent a key enabling infrastructure project for the Tanbreez project, the company said Jan. 7.
Construction of the facilities will be executed under a design-build contract awarded to mining services contractor 60° North Greenland, Critical Metals said.
Under the agreed phasing plan, the pilot plant is scheduled to be ready for use by May 2026.
“This turnkey contract provides us with a clear, structured pathway to deliver critical pilot-plant infrastructure in a challenging Arctic environment,” Critical Metals CEO Tony Sage said. “We see this facility as a cornerstone asset that underpins our technical work programs and long-term strategic objectives,” Sage added.
Critical Metals recently increased its ownership stake in Tanbreez to 92.5% from 42%.
The company expects the Tanbreez project to commence production in 2028, with an initial capacity of 85,000 metric tons of rare earth oxides per year that can be expanded to 425,000 metric tons per year. The total life of the mine is estimated at 25 years.
Critical Metals has allocated 75% of the Tanbreez project’s total annual production through offtake agreements with US-based Ucore Rare Metals Inc. and REalloys Inc., as well as its 50/50 joint venture with Romania’s state-owned Fabrica de Prelucrare a Concentratelor de Uraniu Srl.
China currently dominates global rare earth processing, controlling about 85% of refining capacity, making Western alternative sources increasingly valuable for supply chain security.
Greenland’s mineral resources have attracted heightened global interest following declarations of interest from US President Donald Trump regarding the acquisition of the mineral-rich Arctic island. This mineral wealth includes rare earth elements, graphite, copper, nickel, zinc, iron ore and tungsten, all considered critical across a host of energy transition technologies, including lithium-ion batteries, solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and sensitive military applications.
Despite this potential, Greenland’s mineral resources have remained largely underdeveloped owing to harsh environmental conditions, a lack of critical infrastructure, regulatory barriers and logistical challenges arising from the territory’s vast size.
Story by Euan Sadden, Platts, part of S&P Global Energy
Source: chemweek.com
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