Great Western Minerals Makes Good Progress With Separation Plant At Steenkampskraal
Great Western Minerals (CVE: GWG, OTC: GWMGF, FFT: GWM) said that work on the construction of a separation plant at the Steenkampskraal Rare Earth Project in South Africa is progressing well.
A team of experts from the joint venture partner Ganzhou Qiandong Rare Earth Group (GQD) will arrive on site in the next few weeks to clarify the design, construction and operation of the facility with Great Western.
Great Western signed an advance agreement with GQD in July that would give the Chinese company a 25% stake in the operating company for the facility. A final JV agreement should follow as soon as possible.
GQD has been supplying metals and oxides to Great Western's subsidiary Less Common Metals of Birkenhead, UK, for more than 15 years.
"Our agreement with QGD is one of the most important phases in the development of our business model," said Great Western Chef Jum Engdahl in July.
"GQD's experience in the rare earth industry will ensure that the new facility operates according to the latest standards of liquid-liquid extraction."
Construction of the separation plant is planned for the beginning of 2012. Production should start 2013.
Except for Steenkampskraal, Great Western has seven other rare earth exploration and development projects in North America.
