Uganda Launches Flagship Sustainable Mining Project for Clean Energy Transition
Uganda is set to launch its flagship sustainable mining project, the Makuutu Rare Earths project, in support of its Third National Development Plan (NDPIII). Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX:IXR), an Australian company, is assisting this global shift towards clean energy by producing and recycling rare earth elements.
The Makuutu project, located in Uganda, is poised to become a globally significant producer of heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) and critical rare earth oxides (CREO). Ionic Rare Earths, with its subsidiary Ionic Technologies based in Belfast, UK, offers a unique separation and refining technology for magnet rare earth extraction and refining recovery from permanent magnet recycling, achieving 99.9% purity.
The company's commitment to sustainability is evident in its operations, integrating social, environmental, and governance (ESG) principles. The Makuutu project has already begun transforming local lives through health, education, water purification, and community support programs. Furthermore, Ionic Rare Earths is completing the circular economy of mining by refining and recycling heavy rare earths, aiming to provide a viable alternative solution for the processing of waste agent and swarf to produce separated and refined REOs for new permanent magnets.
Cities in the UK and Ireland, including Birmingham, Belfast, and Dublin, are negotiating with IonicRE to develop modular recycling plants for rare earth elements and partnerships for manufacturing new permanent magnets from waste magnets and scrap. The company's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was submitted to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in December 2021.
The Makuutu Rare Earths project, supported by Ionic Rare Earths, is set to contribute significantly to Uganda's development while also aiding the global transition to clean energy. With its commitment to sustainability and innovative recycling technologies, the company is transforming both local lives and the global rare earths industry.
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