Planned Operational Phases
Development Strategy
- Working capital
- Planning and design
- Phase 1 & 2 metallurgical testwork
- Project mobilization, reclamation, refurbishment – Phase 1
US$10 – 15M Capital raise
- Phase 1 funding
- Working capital
- Phase 2 & 3 metallurgical testwork
- Phase 1 commissioning
- First production of Monazite concentrate (Q3-Q4 2025)
- Phase 2 design & commence construction of cracking plant & 228Ra incubators
- Phase 3 metallurgical testwork
- Phase 1 steady state production of monazite concentrate
- Phase 2 cracking plant & 228Ra incubators construction and commission
- Phase 3 metallurgical testwork
- Phase 1 steady state production of Monazite concentrate
- Phase 2 increase RoM production
- Phase 2 increased production of Monazite concentrate to cracking plant
- Continued phase 2 cracking plant production of cerium & lanthanum depleted mixed rare earth carbonate, Thorium & 228Ra
- Phase 3 metallurgical testwork & design of potential element separation plant
- Phase 1 steady state production of Monazite concentrate
- Phase 2 steady state RoM production
- Phase 2 steady state production of Monazite concentrate to cracking plant
- Phase 2 cracking plant steady state production of cerium & lanthanum depleted mixed rare earth carbonate, Thorium & 228Ra
- Phase 3 design, construction and hot commissioning of potential element separation plant
- Produce individual rare earth oxides
Phased Operational Plan
- Mobilization of mining and processing plant to site
- Refurbishment of decline & shaft area
- Re-equipping of headgear, decline shaft and infrastructure
- Reclamation of equipment, material & loose ore from underground
- Construction of monazite concentration plant
- Phase 2 & 3 metallurgical testwork
- Design and plan Monazite cracking plant
- Change of scope submissions to NNR
- Commence underground mining operations
- Increase production of Monazite concentrate to satisfy production requirements
- Construct and commission Monazite cracking plant to produce cerium and lanthanum depleted mixed rare earth carbonate, Thorium and 228Ra
- Phase 3 metallurgical testwork
- Design and plan rare earth oxide separation plant
- Increase underground mining volumes
- Increase production of Monazite concentrate to satisfy production requirements
- Construct and commission separation plant to produce mixed rare earth oxides
Implementation of Phase 1
The dynamic growth strategy covers producing monazite concentrate with the construction of a monazite concentration plant in phase 1, followed by the construction of a cracking plant to produce cerium depleted mixed rare earth carbonate (CDMREC) and thorium in phase 2. Preliminary investigations and discussions are underway to develop a separation plant to produce individual rare earth oxides (REO’s) in phase 3.
The first phase of a three phase process will involve the mobilisation of mining and processing plant and equipment to the site, refurbishing the decline and shaft area, and re-equipping the headgear and infrastructure. There are ongoing negotiations for the purchase of the concentrate generated from Phase 1 and into Phase 2. The thorium product is traversing well which effectively could fast track Phase 2. Off-take negotiations are ongoing to supply rare earth product to the Far Fast, Europe and USA/Canada, all of which could fast track the development scheduling of the various phase substantially.
The thorium market has changed significantly in recent years. A number of tenders have been issued both locally and internationally for thorium as a nuclear fuel for replacement of uranium. The safety and environmental benefits far overshadow uranium. Thorium isotopes are also in demand for cancer therapy and ongoing discussions are underway to supply Thorium to allow the extraction of these isotopes.
Implementation of Phase 2
The second Phase will involve increased mining volumes and monazite concentrate production and all metallurgical test work, design and planning for the construction and commissioning of a monazite cracking plant. This will produce MREC and thorium. In this phase the design and planning of a RE separation plant will also be undertaken.
Implementation of Phase 3
In Phase three the construction and commissioning of the separation plant will be completed to produce mixed RE oxides. The period January 2026 to December 2026 will see the cracking plant commissioning and initial production of MREC and thorium. The period January 2027 onwards will see the steady state production of monazite concentrate to the cracking plant with the production of MREC and thorium with plans to produce individual RE oxides.
Development strategy of the mine
Bora Mining Investments (BMI) have acquired shares in the Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM) for an undisclosed sum as a strategic partner. The partnership enabled operations to commence at the beginning of 2024 to bring the mine back into production during early 2025. A wholly owned subsidiary of BMI will provide the staffing and equipment to commence with the refurbishment, preliminary construction work and mining contract services.
BMI CEO and owner, Dr. Enock Mathebula, is a successful entrepreneur who has developed a group of companies focused on actively supporting the mining industry as contractors for underground, rehabilitation and surface mining operations. His contribution is immense with the provision of numerous social upliftment, training and mentoring programmes.
Our mining partners are a full-service underground and surface mining company specialising in integrated management solutions. Understanding client’s needs, they work to develop innovative approaches and apply high-speed methodologies to both development and production scopes.
Highlights
- Bora Mining Investments (BMI) have acquired shares in the Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM).
- A wholly-owned subsidiary of BMI will provide the staffing and equipment to commence with the refurbishment, preliminary construction work and mining contract services.
