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Iluka has entered into a long-term agreement with VHM Limited to purchase all planned rare earth concentrate production from the Goschen project in western Victoria, supporting feedstock requirements for its Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia.
{alcircleadd}Under the agreement, VHM will supply 146,000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate containing 86,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides over an 18-year period. On average, this equates to around 8,320 tonnes of rare earth concentrate annually, containing approximately 4,900 tonnes of total rare earth oxides.
Iluka said the concentrate will complement feedstock for the Eneabba refinery, with production levels depending on the optimal blend of internal and external feedstocks as well as refinery processing capacity.
The agreement also grants Iluka a right of first refusal over any additional rare earth production from VHM's Goschen, Cannie and Nowie projects.
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To support the development of the Goschen project, Iluka intends to provide VHM with a AUD 40 million (USD 27.6 million) secured convertible note, comprising an initial AUD 10 million (USD 6.92 million) tranche followed by AUD 30 million (USD 20.75 million) after VHM reaches its final investment decision as part of the project's construction funding package.
Pricing for the rare earth concentrate will be linked to the prices Iluka receives from the sale of separated rare earth products produced at the Eneabba refinery.
According to Iluka, the Eneabba refinery is more than 50 per cent complete, with commissioning scheduled for mid-2027. The facility will become Australia's first fully integrated rare earth refinery capable of producing separated light and heavy rare earth oxides.
Commenting on the agreement, Tom O'Leary, Managing Director of Iluka, said the partnership strengthens the company's rare earth business while supporting the growth of Australia's rare earth supply chain. He added that securing advanced third-party feedstocks alongside Iluka's own projects would improve the long-term flexibility and sustainability of the Eneabba operation.
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