Victory Metals breakthrough highlights Australia as a secure alternative amid global rare earth supply disruptions

Metallurgical tests at North Stanmore have confirmed exceptional leaching efficiency, with ~80% of rare earths extracted in just 30 minutes. This represents a 8-fold improvement over earlier projections and positions the project well ahead of global peers, where leaching can take 24–36 hours.

Leaching is a crucial process in mining that involves extracting valuable minerals from ore using chemical solutions. Efficient leaching rates result in significantly reduced capex and opex and environmental benefits.

Global supply chains for rare earths are under pressure as major producers tighten export controls. China’s restrictions on rare earth exports and continued uncertainty around Brazil’s development of its rare earth deposits have created volatility, uncertainty, and cost pressures for industries that depend on these resources, such as defence.

Victory Metals CEO Brendan Clark said the global situation further highlights the strategic importance of Australia’s rare earth projects as a dependable and sustainable source for global markets, which was the subject of recent talks between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the US President Donald Trump.

“This data strongly indicates North Stanmore’s potential to enable faster, cleaner, and more efficient processing than we had initially forecast, which has a massive upside in terms of reducing opex and capex,” he said.

“But the smaller circuits and lower chemical use also strongly indicate we can reduce the environmental impact of our processing, and quickly rehabilitate the site, while delivering cost savings. Shorter processing times translate directly into lower capital and operating costs, making Victory’s rare earths more competitive on the global stage.”

Victory Metal’s North Stanmore project hosts significant quantities of Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb), and Yttrium (Y) – resources critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other advanced technologies. Yttrium alone represents over 35.9 million kg in the ground, with global prices surging to US$270 per kg amid rising demand.

Victory Metals CEO Brendan Clark said unlike China, whose geo-politically-driven export policies continue to create significant risk to the supply chains of national defence industries around the world, Australia offers stability, transparent regulations, and a commitment to governance and sustainability.

“These results are a game-changer. Achieving near-complete recovery in minutes, not hours, highlights the unique advantages of North Stanmore and strengthens Australia’s position as a global leader in rare earth supply. In a world where export bans and controls are disrupting supply chains, Australia stands out as the trusted choice.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/01122025/victory-metals-breakthrough-highlights-australia-as-a-secure-alternative-amid-global-rare-earth-supply-disruptions/