Aclara Resources submits EIA, provides update for Carina Project

Aclara Resources (ARAAF) has submitted an application for the Environmental Impact Assessment for its Carina Project with the Secretariat of the Environment and Sustainable Development in the State of Goias, Brazil. The submission, consistent with the Carina Project’s schedule and prior announcements, marks a key step towards the Company achieving commercial production of rare earths in 2028. The company said, ” We understand that Aclara’s EIA represents the first “Category Six” application submitted by a company under SEMAD’s new and innovative environmental licensing system, known as the IPE system. The EIA currently meets all established requirements of the IPE system, however, as the IPE system continues to evolve, additional submissions may be required from the Company to align with future procedural and formatting updates to be implemented by SEMAD. The Company expects that any such additional submission will not be substantive in nature, nor should such submission impact the Company’s target of receiving approval for the EIA during Q4 2025.” As previously disclosed in the Company’s technical report titled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Update – Carina Rare Earth Element Project – Nova Roma, Goias, Brazil” dated September 5, 2024, the Carina Project is projected to attain an average annual production of 191 tonnes of Dysprosium and Terbium, representing approximately 13% of China’s 2023 official Dy and Tb production, which could address approximately 50% of the U.S. automotive industry demand by 2030. In addition, the Carina Project is expected to have an average annual production of 1,350 tonnes of Neodymium and Praseodymium, as well as other rare earths, including Samarium, Gadolinium, Lutetium and Yttrium, among others. The projected life-of-mine for the Carina Project is 22 years. Aclara’s recently inaugurated semi-industrial pilot plant in Aparecida de Goiania in the State of Goias continues to operate and receive visits by various Brazilian and foreign stakeholders. The new pilot plant showcases Aclara’s proprietary Circular Mineral Harvesting technology, an innovative and sustainable production process that will be implemented in the Carina Project. The pilot plant also incorporates several process optimizations designed to enhance efficiency, lower operating costs, and improve the purity of the final product. In parallel, Aclara continues to advance and is on track to complete its Pre-Feasibility Study and Feasibility Study for the Carina Project in Q3 2025 and Q1 2026, respectively.