Project will add significant capacity to an evolving clean technologies ecosystem in Australia.
Fluor Corporationās mining and metals business has won a contract to provide engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) for Iluka Resources Eneabba project, a fully integrated rare earths refinery in Eneabba, Western Australia. Fluor will book the undisclosed reimbursable contract value in the second quarter of 2022.
Fluor will complete the front-end engineering design and execute the EPCM services to deliver the refinery. The completed refinery will produce both light and heavy rare earth oxides including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, which are essential to global electrification.
The refinery will have a feed capacity of approximately 55,000 tonnes per annum to produce an estimated 17,500 tonnes per annum of rare earth oxides and will be capable of processing rare earth feedstocks sourced from both Ilukaās portfolio and from a range of potential third party concentrate suppliers.
Tony Morgan, president of Fluorās mining and metals business, said: āRare earths are critical minerals that provide key inputs to a broad range of technologies including the permanent magnets that are essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. When completed, the Eneabba project will add significant capacity to an evolving clean technologies ecosystem in Australia.
āThe Eneabba rare earths refinery has the potential to become a strategic hub for the downstream processing of Australiaās rare earth resources. Fluor is pleased to be selected as a trusted partner to deliver this strategic project for Iluka. Fluor will build on its successful long-term project delivery experience in Australia and expand the companyās geographic footprint in the rare earths sector. Execution of this project will be a demonstration of our value chain offering in future-facing technologies.ā
Fluorās Perth, Australia office will lead the project. Construction of the refinery is scheduled to begin later this year with first production expected in 2025.
