Namibia Critical Metals Successfully Completes Hydromet Pilot Plant Test Work for the Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Deposit; JOGMEC Increases Budget
Original announcement by tmx on
- Company
- Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
- Ticker
- NMI
- Exchange
- TSX
- Region
- Namibia
- Primary commodity
- Rare earth elements
- Secondary commodities
- Terbium, Dysprosium, Yttrium, Uranium, Thorium, Scandium
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-14 15:29:28 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Namibia Critical Metals has successfully completed hydrometallurgical pilot plant testing at SGS Lakefield for the Lofdal HREE project. The testing resulted in a simplified flowsheet that reduces reagent consumption and achieves high recoveries for terbium and dysprosium. Additionally, JV partner JOGMEC has increased its budget commitment to over $15 million CDN.
Reasoning: Successful pilot plant test work demonstrated a simplified, more efficient flowsheet with high recoveries for critical heavy rare earth elements, supported by increased funding from a strategic partner.
Positive factors
- Flowsheet simplification reduces reagent consumption
- High recovery rates for critical HREE (Tb and Dy)
- Successful scale-up from bench to pilot rotary kiln
- Increased budget commitment from JV partner JOGMEC
Negative factors
- Presence of thorium and uranium in the process stream requires management
Facts used in scoring: 3
Classification and evidence
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: The process involves acid baking, water leaching, ion exchange, and carbonate precipitation in a pilot plant setting.
Evidence · text
“Pilot-scale test work at SGS Lakefield resulted in a simplified flow sheet.”
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 2 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 3. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (3)
acid bakeLofdal · terbiumRecovery: 94 %Head Grade: 2.65Head Grade Unit: % TREOView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lofdal
- Commodity
- terbium
- Region
- namibia
- Reported Region
- Namibia
- Ticker
- NMI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- acid bake
- Processing Route
- two-stage acid bake process (300°C and 650°C) followed by water leach and liquor treatment
- Sample
- 93 kg pilot plant flotation concentrate sample, 2.65% TREO, run-of-mine material from Lofdal Area 4 starter pit
Recovery
- Recovery
- 94 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 2.65
- Head Grade Unit
- % TREO
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS Lakefield
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-01-22T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 94% recovery is exceptional for terbium in this process context.
Positive factors
- High recovery of 94% for a critical heavy rare earth
Evidence · text
“recoveries of around 94% terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) using a two-stage acid bake process”
acid bakeLofdal · dysprosiumRecovery: 94 %Head Grade: 2.65Head Grade Unit: % TREOView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lofdal
- Commodity
- dysprosium
- Region
- namibia
- Reported Region
- Namibia
- Ticker
- NMI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- acid bake
- Processing Route
- two-stage acid bake process (300°C and 650°C) followed by water leach and liquor treatment
- Sample
- 93 kg pilot plant flotation concentrate sample, 2.65% TREO, run-of-mine material from Lofdal Area 4 starter pit
Recovery
- Recovery
- 94 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 2.65
- Head Grade Unit
- % TREO
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS Lakefield
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-01-22T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 94% recovery is exceptional for dysprosium in this process context.
Positive factors
- High recovery of 94% for a critical heavy rare earth
Evidence · text
“recoveries of around 94% terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) using a two-stage acid bake process”
continuous liquor treatmentLofdal · rare earth elementsRecovery: 100 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lofdal
- Commodity
- rare earth elements
- Region
- namibia
- Reported Region
- Namibia
- Ticker
- NMI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- continuous liquor treatment
- Processing Route
- two-stage (primary and secondary) impurity removal/neutralization, followed by Uranium IX and two stages of REE carbonate precipitation using sodium carbonate
- Sample
- REE carbonate precipitate produced in mini pilot plant
Recovery
- Recovery
- 100 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS Lakefield
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-01-22T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Almost quantitative recovery of the total REE suite is a very strong metallurgical result.
Positive factors
- Overall recovery was almost quantitative
Evidence · text
“Overall recovery of REE was almost quantitative”
How Atlas produces this analysis
Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.