Aclara, which updated this week the preliminary economic analysis (PEA) for regolith-hosted ion adsorption clay project, now pegs the project’s net present value at $1.5 billion, using an 8% discount rate, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 27% over the 22-year mine life.
Initial capital costs are estimated at $593 million, with low sustaining costs of US$86 million.
The project is forecast to generate $505 million in annual net revenue and US$366 million in EBITDA.
Chief executive officer Ramón Barua told Reuters that, that once in operations, Carina’s production would represent about 13% of China’s 2023 output for these materials.
The Toronto-based company, with offices in Chile and Brazil, is progressing faster than expected on the Carina project, originally slated for production in 2029. Aclara’s has gained momentum mostly thanks to agreements with both state and local governments to expedite the permitting…
