Rare earths miner Northern Minerals has reaffirmed its commitment to supplying xenotime concentrate from its Browns Range project in Western Australia to Iluka Resources' Eneabba rare earths refinery, following a significant funding development for the refinery.

Iluka announced on Friday that it had secured federal funding for the Eneabba refinery and would now focus on construction. The refinery is set to become a strategic infrastructure asset for Australia, processing heavy rare earths essential for technologies such as electric vehicle propulsion, wind turbines, and defence applications.

Northern Minerals MD Shane Hartwig welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of the strategic partnership established with Iluka in 2022.

“Aligned with Iluka’s declaration that the refinery will be [a] strategic infrastructure asset, Northern Minerals believes in the strategic and financial value of an Australia-based, reliable and long-life supply chain of some of the key rare earths required for a cleaner and greener world,” Hartwig said.

The Browns Range project, located in the East Kimberley region, is a significant source of heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium. Under the agreement with Iluka, Northern Minerals will supply 30 500 t of total rare earth oxides over an initial eight-year mine life, representing the majority of its first-stage production.

Northern Minerals is currently finalising a mineral resource estimate update and a definitive feasibility study for Browns Range. The company is targeting first production of xenotime concentrate in late 2027, contingent on securing project funding.