Namibia Critical Metals (TSX-V:NMI, OTC:NMREF) Inc said it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with SGS Canada to begin pilot plant testing on a five-ton sample from the Lofdal heavy rare earth element deposit in Namibia in 3Q 2023.
The company said the objective of the test program is to scale up laboratory flotation tests, including locked-cycle testing, for a higher level of confidence in metallurgy, confirm engineering design criteria for PFS capital and operating cost estimation, and provide a larger amount of material for hydrometallurgical testing.
Namibia Critical Metals president Darrin Campbell commented: "I'm excited about the progress our team made over the first weeks of 2023, both at site with the various drilling programs and at the test centers with further improvements on the economics and efficiencies of the processing flow sheet."
READ: Namibia Critical Metals commences final in-fill drilling for expanded 'Lofdal 2B-4' heavy rare earth project
“This year is expected to be one of the most impactful periods in our corporate development as we continue to accelerate pilot plant testing through feasibility to production."
Further, the company said it has expanded its “Early Learner’s Assistance Program,” one of its ESG initiatives, with the start of the 2023 school year.
200 school uniforms and backpacks were handed over by the company to five primary schools situated around the Lofdal project, four schools in Khorixas and one in Fransfontein, Namibia Critical Metals (TSX-V:NMI, OTC:NMREF) said.
“We have been very involved in supporting our communities for over a decade with ongoing financial support for a local orphanage in Khorixas, providing drilled water wells for local farmers near Lofdal and now the start of our Early Learner's Assistance Program,” Campbell commented.
Namibia Critical Metals is developing the Tier-1 Heavy Rare Earth Project, Lofdal, a globally significant deposit of the heavy rare earth metals dysprosium and terbium.
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