22nd Sep 2025 11:34
(Alliance News) - Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd on Monday reported a further milestone in test work at its Phalaborwa rare earths project in South Africa, as it seeks to refine production of high-value elements used in green technologies.
The developer of the Phalaborwa rare earths project in South Africa and Uberaba project in Brazil said it has successfully added a cerium depletion step to the process flowsheet.
This reduced cerium content in its mixed rare earth production by about 65% and cut the volume of the flow to the final separation circuit. Rainbow said the step enhances product quality and lowers both capital and operating costs.
Cerium is a relatively low-value rare earth element but makes up a large proportion of the material processed. Its removal before final separation simplifies the production of high-purity neodymium, praseodymium and other valuable heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium.
Chief Executive Officer George Bennett said: "This cerium rejection step is a major achievement in establishing Phalaborwa as one of the world’s most efficient producers of light and heavy magnet rare earths worldwide."
Rainbow said it expects to finalise the separation component of the flowsheet in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Ecora Resources PLC, which holds a 0.85% gross revenue royalty over Phalaborwa, noted Rainbow's update.
Shares in Rainbow Rare Earths were up 13% at 17.50 pence each in London on Monday morning, while Ecora shares were up 0.9% at 78.00p.
By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News reporter
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