Lindian signs term sheet for Kazakhstan MREC processing plant

Lindian Resources has signed a binding word expanse to get 100% of an existing mixed uncommon earths carbonate (MREC) processing installation successful Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan.

This acquisition is structured done an incorporated associated task (IJV) betwixt Lindian (51%) and section in-country JV spouse RA-Group (49%).

The Lindian-RA JV plans to bargain the Summit Atom Rare Earth Company Arctic (SARECO) MREC processing installation and related infrastructure, which was antecedently owned and operated by a JV betwixt Sumitomo Corporation and Kazatomprom.

The transaction marks a important displacement successful Lindian's operational strategy, transitioning from solely producing ore to entering the high-value MREC accumulation market.

By acquiring this afloat operational facility, the institution aims to heighten its presumption wrong the uncommon world processing assemblage without undertaking the extended costs and risks associated with greenfield developments.

The SARECO plant's acquisition is valued astatine $15m, with Lindian contributing $7.65m (A$10.83m) and RA contributing $7.35m (T3.65bn).

The bulk of this outgo is deferred until aft commercialized accumulation begins.

This installation offers a cost-effective introduction into downstream processing, leveraging existing infrastructure to minimise concern and improvement time.

Lindian plans to proviso astir 12,500 tonnes per annum (tpa) of monazite ore from its Kangankunde Rare Earths Project to the JV.

Both Kangankunde and the SARECO installation are expected to beryllium operational by the 4th fourth of 2026.

The acquisition coincides with planetary practice betwixt the US and Kazakhstan successful captious minerals, underscored by a memorandum of knowing signed successful November 2025.

This collaboration aims to diversify and unafraid mineral proviso chains beyond presently concentrated jurisdictions.

With operational oversight and exclusive selling rights for each MREC products produced, Lindian seeks to broaden its lawsuit basal and fortify its negotiating presumption successful planetary markets.

Lindian Resources enforcement president Robert Martin said: “The acquisition of the SARECO MREC installation is simply a defining measurement for Lindian.

“It fast-tracks our modulation from a ore shaper to an integrated uncommon earths institution with downstream capability, materially enhancing margins, commercialized flexibility and semipermanent strategical value.

“This transaction positions Lindian to beryllium 1 of the precise fewer non-Chinese companies globally producing some uncommon world ore and MREC.”

In December 2025, the institution paid the last $10m tranche nether a stock merchantability statement to get Rift Valley Resource Developments, the Malawian institution that owns 100% of the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project.