Great Western Minerals (TSX:V - GWG) said Thursday it has appointed Kaz Machida to the company's advisory board.
Machida has worked with Itochu, an international trading and import/export company headquartered in Japan. Since the early 1980s, he has been involved with the importation of Rare Earth oxides and metals, primarily from China, in the area of phosphors, magnets, glass, polishing powders, catalysts and ceramics. In the past decade, Machida has worked with Lynas Corporation, and subsequently with his own company that is involved in the trading of Rare Earths oxides.
Great Western said that Machida's connections within the Japanese and Pacific Rim Rare Earths sector will be of particular use to the company.
Great Western's specialty alloys are used in the battery, magnet and aerospace industries. The company holds 20.8% ownership in Rare Earth Extraction Co., the owner of the Steenkampskraal mine, as well as interests in seven Rare Earth exploration and development properties in North America.