Namibia Critical Metals Successfully Completes Hydromet Pilot Plant Test Work for the Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Deposit; JOGMEC Increases Budget
Press Release
Namibia Critical Metals Successfully Completes Hydromet Pilot
Plant Test Work for the Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Deposit;
JOGMEC Increases Budget
Halifax, Nova Scotia January 22, 2025 – Namibia Critical Metals Inc. (“Namibia Critical
Metals” or the “Company” or “NCMI”) (TSXV: NMI OTCQB: NMREF) is pleased to anno unce
key results of the hydrometallurgical scale-up and mini pilot plant test work leading to the
production of a high purity rare earth element (REE) carbonate product for its “Lofdal 2B-4”
heavy rare earth (HREE) project.
Pilot-scale test work at SGS Lakefield resulted in a simplified flow sheet. The removal of crude
REE precipitation, re-leach and thorium solvent extraction forms a significant simplification
and is leading to reduced overall reagent consumption.
The Company also announces that its joint venture partner, JOGMEC, has approved an
additional $550,000 CDN budget for JOGMEC’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. This brings
JOGMEC’s total expenditure commitments to $15,091,000.
Darrin Campbell, President of Namibia Critical Metals, stated:
“We are very pleased to have successfully completed the pilot -scale hydrometallurgical test
work for our PFS “Lofdal 2B -4”. SGS again demonstrated their ability to innovatively modify
the flow sheet resulting in further simplification and reduced reagent consumption . The
detailed results will now be evaluated by our engineering and financial team and will form the
basis of the PFS report expected later this year as we work to mitigate increased inflationary
costs from our November 2022 PEA.”
Hydrometallurgical Test Work
Tests were conducted using a 93 kg pilot plant flotation concentrate sample with an average
grade of 2.65% TREO produced at SGS Lakefield, using run-of-mine material from the Lofdal
Area 4 starter pit.
Bench scale hydrometallurgical tests were conducted showing recov eries of around 94%
terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) using a two-stage acid bake process at 300°C and 650°C.
The SGS pilot rotary kiln was used to scale up from static acid baking to continuous testing
in short 6-8 h commissioning campaigns and a longer 72-84 h pilot campaign.
The calcines produced in the acid bake campaigns were combined and water leached batch-
wise. The pregnant leach solution (PLS) was subsequently used in a series of bench scale and
continuous liquor treatment tests.
Test Results
The original flowsheet consisted of Impurity Removal (IR), Crude Rare Earth Carbonate
Precipitation (RP), Re -Leaching (RL) of the crude carbonate precipitate to produce a
concentrated REE liquor followed by Uranium IX and T horium SX, and final REE recovery as
calcined oxalate or carbonate.
Current test work has shown that a significantly simplified flowsheet consisting of two stage
(primary and secondary) impurity removal /neutralization, followed by U ranium IX and two
stages (primary and secondary) of REE carbonate precipitation is able to produce high grade
HREE carbonate.
Under optimum operating conditions, continuous high temperature (600°C) sulphation in the
SGS rotary kiln yielded high HREE dissolution (90-94% Tb and Dy). A composite water leach
liquor was produced containing around 1. 6 g/L REE and co -extracted impurities such as
thorium, uranium, scandium, iron and aluminium.
Batch testwork was used to show that two stages of impurity removal using magnesium
carbonate was able to remove practically all (below analytical detection limits) thorium,
scandium, iron, aluminium, and some of the uranium at minimum losses of HREE (~ 2% ).
Uranium was removed by ion exchange (UIX) using a conventional strong base anion resin
with negligible co-extraction of HREE.
The UIX barren liquor was used in a mini pilot plant where REE -carbonate was recovered in
two stages (primary and secondary) of precipitation using sodium carbonate. Overall recovery
of REE was almost quantitative and around 0.5 kg of REE carbonate precipitate was produced
containing 3.24% dysprosium, 0.44% terbium and 19.3% yttrium. Thorium impurities of the
product are <0.5 g/t Th. A detailed composition is shown below.
Standalone re-leach tests confirmed that any HREE co-precipitated in the Secondary
Neutralization (SN) stage and Secondary Rare Earth Precipitation were easily recovered
(>99.7%) using excess acidity contained in the Water Leach (WL) PLS. No additional acid is
required.
The removal of the original C rude REE Precipitation, R e-Leach (RL) and Thorium Solvent
Extraction (ThSX) unit operations forms a significant simplification and is leading to reduced
overall reagent consumption. The simplified block flow diagram of the revised flowsheet is
shown below.
La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Y Er Tm Yb Lu
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
6.16 11.1 1.10 3.76 0.98 0.39 2.05 0.44 3.24 0.66 19.3 1.97 0.25 1.43 0.19
Sc Th U Si Al Fe Mg Ca Na K Ti P Mn Cr V
g/t g/t g/t % % % % % % % % % % % %
<25 <0.5 <0.5 0.02 0.02 <0.01 0.44 0.18 0.19 0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.14 <0.01 <0.01
3
About Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
NCMI is developing the Tier-1 Heavy Rare Earth Project, Lofdal, a globally significant deposit
of the heavy rare earth metals dysprosium and terbium. Demand for these critical metals
used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other electronics is driven
by innovations linked to energy and technology transformations. The geopolitical risks
associated with sourcing many of these metals has become a repeated concern for
manufacturers and end users. Namibia is a proven and stable mining jurisdiction. The Lofdal
Project is fully permitted with a 25 -year Mining License and is under a Joint Venture
agreement with Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).
About Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and the JV
JOGMEC is a Japanese government independent administrative agency which seeks to secure
stable resource supplies for Japan. JOGMEC has a strong reputation as a long term, strategic
partner in mineral projects globally. JOGMEC facilitates opportunities with Japanese private
companies to secure suppl ies of natural resources for the benefit of the country’s economic
development.
Rare earth elements are of critical importance to Japanese industrial interests and JOGMEC
has extensive experience with all aspects of the sector. JOGMEC provided Lynas with
USD$250,000,000 in loans and equity in 2011 to ensure supplies of the Light Rare Earths
metals suite to the Japanese industry.
H2SO4 Water MgCO3
Flotation
Concentrate
Na2CO3 Lime
Acid Bake
(AB)
(600 C)
Water Leach
(WL)
Primary
Neutralization
(PN)
Secondary
Neutralization
(SN)
Uranium IX
(UIX)
Primary REE
Precip
Secondary
REE Precip
Tailings
Neutralization
HREE
Carbonate Tailings
Namibia Critical Metals owns a 95% interest in the Lofdal project with the remaining 5% held
for the benefit of historically disadvantaged Namibians. The terms of the JOGMEC joint
venture agreement with the Company stipulate that JOGMEC provides C$3,000,00 0 in Term
1 and C$7,000,000 in Term 2 to earn a 40% interest in the Lofdal project. Term 3 calls for a
further C$10,000,000 of expenditures to earn an additional 10% interest. JOGMEC can also
purchase another 1% for C$5,000,000 and has first right of refusal to fully fund the project
through to commercial production and to purchase all production at market prices. The
collective interests of NCMI and historically disadvantaged Namibians cannot be diluted below
a 26% carried working interest upon payment of C$5,000,000 to JOGMEC for the dilution
protection. NMI may elect to participate up to a maximum of 44% by funding pro rata after
the earn in period is completed.
To date, JOGMEC has completed Term 2 and earned a 40% interest by reaching the C$10
million expenditure requirement. Total approved project funding to date is C$1 5,091,000 of
the $20,000,000 Earn-In requirement to reach 50% interest.
Rainer Ellmies, PhD, MScGeol, EurGeol, AusIMM and Vice President of Namibia Critical Metals
Inc., is the Company’s Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.
The common shares of Namibia Critical Metals Inc. trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under
the symbol “NMI” and the OTCQB Market under the symbol “NMREF”.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information please contact -
Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
Darrin Campbell, President
Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760
Email: [email protected] Web site: www.NamibiaCriticalMetals.com
This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information
is frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “est imate”, “may”, “will”, “would”,
“potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only
predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimate s of management at the date the information is provided, and is
subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should
refer to the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if
circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue r eliance
on forward-looking information.