Hastings and GRES strengthen partnership

Hastings Technology Metals has executed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with GR Engineering Services (GRES) for the delivery of the Yangibana project’s beneficiation plant and associated infrastructure.

GRES is a process engineering consulting and contracting company based in Western Australia.

The Yangibana project is located in the Gascoyne region of WA, approximately 250 kilometres northeast of Carnarvon.

The EPC contract has no material departures from the binding terms sheet that both parties signed in May 2023, including the contract value of $210 million.

Under the contract, GRES will design and construct the Yangibana beneficiation plant and all associated infrastructure, including engineering, manufacture, supply, installation, dry and wet commissioning, and testing of the facility over a period of less than 18 months.

This includes a process guarantee which aligns with the current planned ramp up of the beneficiation plant and supported by all process test work completed to date.

When completed, the Yangibana plant is expected to have a feed capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum and a rare earth concentrate output capacity of 37,000 tonnes per annum. The first concentrate is planned for the second quarter in the 2025 financial year (Q2 2025).

Hastings Technology Metals said that GRES will continue under the early works contract until full mobilisation at the site in Q4 2023, when it expects all conditions to be satisfied.

“The signing of the EPC contract with GR Engineering for the delivery of the beneficiation plant at Yangibana is another important milestone in our development plan for bringing this world-class project into production,” Hastings Technology Metals executive chairman Charles Lew said.

GR Engineering Services managing director Tony Patrizi said the company is pleased to be working on the project with Hastings Technology Metals.

“The fact that Hastings has recognised the high level of expertise and experience within the GRES process team and broader business is extremely satisfying,” Patrizi said.