Arafura Rare Earths has announced the appointment of Tommie van der Walt as chief projects officer, taking effect on January 20.
Van der Walt brings extensive experience as a mining executive and has capability in project delivery and operational leadership, bolstered by a career spanning exploration, construction, and operations in complex environments.
In his previous role as Newmont’s regional project director for Africa, Van der Walt developed a multi-country growth strategy and successfully delivered the $US1.7 billion ($2.6 billion) Ahafo mega-project on schedule, enhancing production capacity and efficiency.
More recently, he served as chief operating officer at Ionic Rare Earths, overseeing the development of the Makuutu rare earths mine in Uganda and a chemical plant in Belfast.
“Tommie’s technical expertise, strategic vision, values-based leadership, and emphasis on operational excellence position him well to lead delivery of the Nolans (rare earths) project,” Arafura said.
Van der Walt’s appointment follows the decision of chief operating officer Stuart Macnaughton to step down for personal reasons.
Macnaughton’s leadership has been instrumental in de-risking the engineering design for Nolans, particularly in the construction and ramp-up of hydrometallurgical facilities.
Arafura managing director Darryl Cuzzubbo thanked Macnaughton for his contributions, noting his impact on advancing Nolans.
“We are looking forward to Tommie joining us early next year. He brings extensive experience in delivering projects to completion and into production that is perfectly aligned to Arafura and the Nolans project,” Cuzzubbo said.
“I want to thank Stuart for his leadership and significant contribution in continuing to de-risk and advance the Nolans project.”
Macnaughton will assist with the transition and remain available in an advisory capacity, ensuring continuity and leveraging his expertise during the project’s ramp-up phase.
In other recent news at the company, Arafura Rare Earths is raising money to support its Nolans project, helping to make the Northern Territory one of the world’s sources of important critical minerals.
The Nolans project includes a mine, process plant (comprising beneficiation, extraction and separation plants) and related infrastructure located 135km north of Alice Springs.
The Nolan project’s cornerstone asset is the Nolans Bore rare earths-phosphate-uranium-thorium deposit, one of the largest and most intensively explored deposits of its kind in the world.
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