Brazilian Rare Earths reports $7.9 billion NPV for Rocha da Rocha project

Brazilian Rare Earths has released a Scoping Study for its Rocha da Rocha project in Bahia, Brazil, reporting an after-tax net present value (NPV) of US$7.9 billion. The study indicates an after-tax internal rate of return of 89% and a payback period of 1.1 years, based on long-term price forecasts for Europe and the US.

Centered on the ultra-high-grade Monte Alto deposit, which averages 11.3% total rare earth oxides, the project aims to become a significant global source of critical minerals. Forecasted life-of-mine annual production includes an estimated 5,276 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium oxide and 2,253 tonnes of heavy rare earth (HREE) concentrate. Production is expected to increase during the first five years of operation.

The development will utilize a hub-and-spoke model, featuring mine-site beneficiation at Monte Alto and Sulista, followed by centralized processing at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex. The company noted that the high grade of the deposit could lead to lower processing intensity and a smaller mine-site footprint.