Pilot Plant Success Critical as Critica Advances Jupiter’s Rare Earths

Pilot Plant to Validate Scale-Up

Critica Limited (ASX, CRI) has taken a decisive step forward in developing its Jupiter Rare Earths Project in Western Australia by approving the construction and operation of a pilot-scale beneficiation plant. The facility, to be built and run by Technology of Mineral and Environment (GAVAQ) in Hanoi, Vietnam, will process a substantial 3,000-kilogram bulk sample of run-of-mine material. This pilot aims to demonstrate the flowsheet at scale, incorporating magnetic separation and flotation techniques to produce a high-grade rare earth concentrate.

The pilot plant’s primary goal is to validate earlier bench-scale results that showed approximately 95% mass rejection and an impressive grade uplift exceeding 800%. Achieving these metrics at scale is critical, as it promises to reduce the size and reagent requirements of the subsequent leaching process, ultimately lowering capital and operating costs.

Integrated Development Pathway

This beneficiation pilot is part of a broader, integrated technical program that includes hydrometallurgical testwork led by Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Minutech. Together, these efforts are designed to produce a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) product, a key intermediate for downstream processing and market engagement.

Critica’s CEO Jacob Deysel highlighted the strategic importance of this step, noting that upgrading the ore before leaching not only streamlines the process but also enhances environmental and economic outcomes. The pilot plant will generate decision-grade data on recoveries, concentrate specifications, reagent consumption, and tailings characteristics, all vital inputs for the upcoming Scoping Study.

From Resource to Revenue

The Jupiter Project is advancing through parallel streams of geological and metallurgical de-risking. Geological efforts focus on resource optimisation and detailed modelling of magnet rare earth element zones, while the metallurgical route now scales the beneficiation-first approach through the Hanoi pilot. This staged development plan aims to transition Jupiter from a resource stage to revenue generation, underpinning future feasibility studies and commercialisation.

Critica’s approach reflects a growing trend in the rare earth sector to integrate beneficiation and hydrometallurgy early in the development cycle, reducing technical risk and improving project economics. The company’s clear pathway towards producing a high-value MREC product positions it well amid increasing global demand for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies.

While no new mineral resource estimates were disclosed, the pilot plant’s success will be pivotal in confirming the project’s technical and economic viability. Investors and industry watchers will be keenly observing the pilot’s progress and the subsequent Scoping Study outcomes.