Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project Receives Final Permit Approval from U.S. Federal Government; Construction Planned for 2025
Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR) has received federal permit approval from the Bureau of Land Management for its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada. The project, set to begin construction in 2025 with first production in 2028, will quadruple U.S. lithium output and supply batteries for over 370,000 American-made electric vehicles annually. The facility will create 500 construction jobs and 350 permanent positions. The project features sustainable elements including 50% water recycling and avoids using evaporation ponds. The company plans to issue updated reserve figures and project costs by December 2024, advancing toward Final Investment Decision in Q1 2025.
Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR) ha ottenuto l'approvazione del permesso federale dal Bureau of Land Management per il suo Progetto Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron in Nevada. La costruzione del progetto, che avrà inizio nel 2025 con la prima produzione nel 2028, quadruplerà la produzione di litio negli Stati Uniti e fornirà batterie per oltre 370.000 veicoli elettrici prodotti negli Stati Uniti ogni anno. L'impianto creerà 500 posti di lavoro temporanei e 350 posizioni permanenti. Il progetto include elementi sostenibili come il riciclaggio del 50% dell'acqua e evita l'uso di bacini di evaporazione. L'azienda prevede di pubblicare figure aggiornate sulle riserve e i costi del progetto entro dicembre 2024, avanzando verso la Decisione di Investimento Finale nel primo trimestre del 2025.
Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR) ha recibido la aprobación del permiso federal por parte de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras para su Proyecto de Litio-Boro Rhyolite Ridge en Nevada. El proyecto, que comenzará la construcción en 2025 con la primera producción en 2028, cuadruplicará la producción de litio en EE. UU. y suministrará baterías para más de 370.000 vehículos eléctricos fabricados en América anualmente. La instalación creará 500 empleos de construcción y 350 puestos permanentes. El proyecto cuenta con elementos sostenibles que incluyen un 50% de reciclaje de agua y evita el uso de estanques de evaporación. La empresa planea emitir cifras de reservas actualizadas y costos del proyecto para diciembre de 2024, avanzando hacia la Decisión Final de Inversión en el primer trimestre de 2025.
Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR)는 네바다에 있는 라이올라이트 리지 리튬-보론 프로젝트에 대해 토지 관리국으로부터 연방 허가 승인을 받았습니다. 이 프로젝트는 2025년에 건설을 시작하고 2028년에 첫 생산을 계획하고 있으며, 미국의 리튬 생산을 4배로 늘리고 연간 370,000대의 미국산 전기차에 배터리를 공급할 것입니다. 이 시설은 500개의 건설 일자리와 350개의 영구 직위를 창출할 것입니다. 이 프로젝트는 50%의 물을 재활용하는 등 지속 가능한 요소들을 포함하고 있으며, 증발 연못 사용을 피하고 있습니다. 회사는 2024년 12월까지 업데이트된 매장량 수치와 프로젝트 비용을 발표할 예정이며, 2025년 1분기에 최종 투자 결정을 진행할 것입니다.
Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR) a obtenu l'approbation d'un permis fédéral de la part du Bureau de la gestion des terres pour son Projet de Lithium-Bore Rhyolite Ridge au Nevada. Le projet, qui devrait débuter sa construction en 2025 avec une première production en 2028, quadruplera la production de lithium aux États-Unis et fournira des batteries pour plus de 370 000 véhicules électriques fabriqués en Amérique chaque année. L'installation créera 500 emplois temporaires et 350 postes permanents. Le projet inclut des éléments durables, dont 50 % de recyclage de l'eau et évite l'utilisation de bassins d'évaporation. L'entreprise prévoit de publier des chiffres de réserve actualisés et les coûts du projet d'ici décembre 2024, avançant vers la décision d'investissement finale au premier trimestre 2025.
Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR) hat die Genehmigung des Bundesamtes für Landverwaltung für sein Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron-Projekt in Nevada erhalten. Das Projekt, das 2025 mit dem Bau beginnen und 2028 die erste Produktion anvisieren soll, wird die Lithiumproduktion in den USA vervierfachen und jährlich Batterien für über 370.000 in Amerika hergestellte Elektrofahrzeuge liefern. Die Einrichtung wird 500 Bauarbeitsplätze und 350 Dauerstellen schaffen. Das Projekt umfasst nachhaltige Elemente, einschließlich einer 50%igen Wasserrecyclingquote, und vermeidet die Nutzung von Verdunstungsbecken. Das Unternehmen plant, bis Dezember 2024 aktualisierte Reservemengen und Projektkosten zu veröffentlichen und strebt im ersten Quartal 2025 die endgültige Investitionsentscheidung an.
- Federal permit approval received, clearing path for construction
- Project will quadruple U.S. lithium output
- Will supply batteries for 370,000+ EVs annually
- Creation of 500 construction and 350 permanent jobs
- 70% of processing facility engineering is complete
- 50% water recycling capability
- Construction not starting until 2025
- First production delayed until 2028
- Final Investment Decision pending until Q1 2025
Insights
Project will quadruple
Rhyolite Ridge will supply the batteries for more than 370,000 American-made electric vehicles annually and process crucial battery materials on-site in
“For more than six years, we have worked closely with state, federal and tribal governments, as well as the
“I can say with absolute confidence there are few deposits in the world as impactful as Rhyolite Ridge. Today’s approval of Ioneer’s federal permit is the culmination of countless hours of work and a testament to our remarkable team’s dedication to developing and building one of the most sustainable mining projects in the country,” said Ioneer Executive Chairman James Calaway. “We are pleased by what we have achieved working with the Biden Administration, and by the bi-partisan support we have received at the federal, state and local levels.”
The formal Record of Decision (ROD) follows the issuance last month of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)1 by the BLM, which incorporated public feedback received during the April-June open comment period, and concludes the rigorous and comprehensive formal federal permitting process, which began in early 2020. Ioneer’s pre-permitting work began in early 2019 and, in December 2022, the company formally entered the final stages of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, as required by all projects on federal lands.
Ioneer enacted major changes to the project throughout the permitting process resulting in a stronger, more sustainable project that incorporates the needs and concerns of all stakeholders. They include:
- Major modification to the location of the western wall of the quarry to avoid Tiehm’s buckwheat, an endangered species adjacent to the project designated in December 2022,
- Relocation of all possible infrastructure and related disturbance to areas outside of critical habitat identified because of its potential to support pollinators for Tiehm’s buckwheat,
- Relocation of overburden storage facilities to avoid culturally sensitive sites and other important mitigation measures based on input from tribal site visits and consultation,
- Commitments to water conservation,2 and
- Commitments to dust, noise and light monitoring as well as mitigation and minimization of impact for the community and nature.
As part of the final EIS, the
Rhyolite Ridge’s commitment to sustainability extends to its processing facility, for which
Due to the deposit’s unique minerology, Ioneer will limit its operational footprint by avoiding the use of evaporation ponds and curtail its carbon footprint as its steam-powered facility will operate independently from the
With the project formally approved by the federal government, Ioneer expects to issue updated reserve figures and estimated project costs by December 2024 and advance toward a Final Investment Decision with its financing partners.
Estimated Project Timeline
Ioneer’s estimated timing* for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project is as follows:
Milestone |
Targeted timing |
Note |
Anticipated Final Investment Decision |
1Q 2025 |
Based on current management estimates and accounting for the Sibanye-Stillwater agreement, |
Construction |
36 months |
Includes supply of long-lead items and construction. Subject to lead times and when orders are placed. |
Anticipated Commercial Production and Delivery to Partners |
2028 |
Produce and process high-grade lithium and boron on-site at Rhyolite Ridge. |
*As of October 2024, and subject to change.
This ASX release has been authorised by Ioneer Managing Director, Bernard Rowe.
About Ioneer
Ioneer Ltd is an emerging lithium–boron producer and the
In September 2021, Ioneer entered into an agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater where, following the satisfaction of conditions precedent, Sibanye-Stillwater will acquire a
Ioneer signed separate offtake agreements with Ford Motor Company and PPES (joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic) in 2022 and Korea’s EcoPro Innovation in 2021.
To learn more about Ioneer, visit www.Ioneer.com/investors.
Important notice and disclaimer
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements and comments about future events, including Ioneer’s expectations about the Project and the performance of its businesses. Forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as ‘expect’, ‘anticipate’, ‘likely’, ‘intend’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘predict’, ‘plan’, ‘propose’, ‘will’, ‘believe’, ‘forecast’, ‘estimate’, ‘target’ and other similar expressions within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions. Indications of, and guidance on, the Conditional Commitment, financing plans, future earnings or financial position or performance are also forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there is a risk that such predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Forward-looking statements are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied on as an indication or guarantee of future performance. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainty and other factors which can cause Ioneer’s actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements and many of these factors are outside the control of Ioneer. Such risks include, among others, uncertainties related to the finalisation, execution, and funding of the DOE financing, including our ability to successfully negotiate definitive agreements and to satisfy any funding conditions, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the
Except as required by law or the ASX Listing Rules, Ioneer assumes no obligation to provide any additional or updated information or to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.
________________________ |
1 “Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Project Clears Major |
2 “Water Use at Rhyolite Ridge” https://www.ioneer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ioneer-Water-Fact-Sheet_Final-1-1.pdf |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241023742388/en/
United States Investor Relations
Chad Yeftich
E: ir@ioneer.com
Media Relations (
Daniel Francis, FGS Global
E: daniel.francis@fgsglobal.com
Australia Investor Relations
Ian Bucknell
E: ir@ioneer.com
Media Relations (
Peter Taylor, NWR Communications
peter@nwrcommunications.com.au
Source: Ioneer Ltd
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