Madagascar formalises Harena’s Ampasindava exploitation permit
Harena Rare Earths is focusing its efforts on obtaining an environmental permit and the approval of its environmental and social plans to enable it to start construction on its Ampasindava rare earths project, in Madagascar.
This follows the formalisation of the project’s exploitation permit by Madagascar’s Ministry of Mines.
The pilot phase is expected to be supported by Harena’s $4.84-million project development funding agreement with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and will include the development and operation of a demonstration plant and an initial operation to validate the project’s technical, operational, economic, environmental and social parameters.
“The formalisation of the exploitation permit represents a major milestone for Harena and the Ampasindava project, building on the mining terms and conditions already agreed with the government of Madagascar and allowing us to advance the project towards its next stage of development, supported by the significant funding we have secured from the DFC,” comments Harena executive chairperson Ivan Murphy.
He adds that Madagascar’s prospective entry into a select group of countries that produce and process rare earths will contribute to the country’s new industrial policy, with benefits including job creation and, in particular, the training and development of a skilled and specialised local workforce in line with international standards.
“The pilot programme will generate important technical data to further refine Ampasindava’s development pathway as we work towards bringing the project into production in 2028,” Murphy concludes.