Australian rare earths company Hastings Technology Metals has awarded a contract to GR Engineering Services (GRES) to deliver the beneficiation plant for the Yangibana rare earths project in Western Australia (WA).

Under the contract, which is valued at A$210m ($137.32m), GRES will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work for the beneficiation plant and associated infrastructure.

The scope of the contract includes engineering, manufacture, supply, installation, dry and wet commissioning, and testing of the facility, over a period of less than 18 months.

In a press statement, Hastings said: “The EPC contract minimises the risk of capital cost increases and provides guarantees on project schedule, product throughput and plant recovery.”

Planned for commissioning in Q2 2025, the beneficiation plant is expected to have a feed capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum (tpa) and a rare earth concentrate production capacity of 37,000tpa.

GRES said it will continue to work with Hastings under the early works contract until full mobilisation to the site in Q4 2023.

Hastings executive chairman Charles Lew said: “The signing of the EPC contract with GR Engineering for the delivery of the beneficiation plant at Yangibana is another important milestone in our development plan for bringing this world-class project into production.

“The fixed price contract and strong credentials of GR Engineering give us a high level of confidence in the delivery of this critical infrastructure ahead of first rare earths concentrate production in Q2 2025.”

Located in the Gascoyne region of WA, the Yangibana rare earths project has significant neodymium and praseodymium resources.