In this episode, we speak to Tim Harrison, MD of Ionic Rare Earths that is focused on developing its flagship Makuutu Rare Earths project in Uganda into a significant, low-cost, supplier of high-value critical and heavy rare earths.

Tim has a chemical and metallurgy background with a track record across both mineral processing and hydrometallurgy. He has worked with a wide range of commodities and talks to us more about Ionic Rare Earths. Including providing a project update.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Makuutu Rare Earths project in Uganda is an ionic adsorption clay deposit.
• It is easier, faster, and cheaper to extract Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from clay than it is from hard rock ore.
• Adsorption clay deposits give you a different basket of metals.
• Heavy Rare Earth Elements are used across multiple sectors including zero-carbon, medical, military, and EVs.
• Without heavy rare earths, you cannot have the permanent magnet motors the electric vehicle and offshore wind industries need. 
• Thirty-three percent of their production is magnetic rare earths.
• Ionic liquids technology is making separation far faster and easier.
• Ionic Rare Earths are also involved in developing technology that recycles spent magnets.
• Demand for rare earths will increase drastically in the next 10 years.
• Without magnet rare earths, net-zero goals cannot be achieved.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Organic adsorption clay produces a different composition of rare earth elements. ´

‘We've got 33% of our basket being neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, which are the four key magnet rare earths.’

‘We´ve had tremendous support from the Ugandan authorities.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Website: https://ionicre.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/ionic-rare-earths-limited

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ionic_re?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/124924299561369/

Email: admin@ionicre.com.au

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Email: rob@mining-international.org

Website: https://www.mining-international.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theminingpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast/videos

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

Rob is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specializing in all areas of mining across the globe from the first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our client's organizations in any mining discipline or level.

Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

Podcast Description

Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.