Pilot plant preparations accelerating
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
15 April 2026
AR3 progresses ANSTO pilot-scale program
with ore ready for shipment
Highlights:
• ~30 tonnes of Koppamurra ore prepared and ready for shipment to ANSTO, marking
transition to pilot-scale execution.
• First to use ANSTO’s new pilot-scale facility in Sydney, shortening development
timelines while reducing capital costs and execution risks.
• Pilot operations on track to commence late Q2 2026, a key catalyst in advancing
Koppamurra toward commercialisation.
• Production of Mixed Rare Earth Oxide (MREO) to support offtake discussions, product
qualification and strategic partner engagement.
• Pilot program to deliver critical scale-up and engineering data, further de-risking
flowsheet and informing bankable feasibility studies.
• Near-term catalysts building through 2026:
o Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) (Q2)
o Pilot plant commencement (Late Q2)
o Mining Lease application targeted later this year
• Accelerating global rare earth demand and policy support for supply chain
diversification are very favorable tailwinds for Koppamurra.
• Engage with this announcement at the AR3 investor hub.
AR3 Managing Director and CEO, Travis Beinke, said:
“The completion of ~30 tonnes of ore preparation and imminent shipment to ANSTO marks an
important step as we prepare to move into pilot-scale operations for Koppamurra.
We are delighted to be selected as the first industry partner to access ANSTO’s new pilot-scale facility.
It saves AR3 significant time and money as we steadily tick off the milestones towards a final
investment decision for Koppamurra. It enables us to accelerate development, and the data we gather
will be used to prove up our processing pathway at scale, which is important to potential providers of
project finance.
The pilot program will also generate mixed rare earth oxide feedstock samples for engagement with
potential offtake and strategic partners, representing a key step toward commercialisation.
2026 is shaping as a transformational year for AR3, with our PFS nearing completion, pilot operations
commencing by the end of Q2, samples out to potential offtakers and our Mining Lease application
progressing later this year.”
Australian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: AR3) is pleased to provide an update on its pilot-scale
processing program at ANSTO, with approximately 30 tonnes of ore from its Koppamurra Rare
Earths Project, located in South Australia, now prepared and ready for transport to ANSTO’s new
pilot-scale rare earth processing facility in Sydney (See ASX Announcement, 1 December 2025).
Figure 1: ~30 tonne blended Koppamurra bulk sample ready for transportation from Adelaide to ANSTO’s Pilot
Plant facility in Sydney.
This milestone marks AR3’s transition into pilot-scale execution, a key step in advancing the
Koppamurra Rare Earths Project toward commercialisation.
AR3 will be the first industry participant to utilise ANSTO’s new pilot-scale rare earth processing
facility, placing the Company in the vanguard of Australia’s emerging ionic clay-hosted rare earths
sector.
The pilot program is expected to commence by the end of Q2 2026 and will process Koppamurra ore
through a continuous pilot-scale circuit, bridging the gap between laboratory testwork and full-scale
operations.
De-risking development and enabling commercial outcomes
The ANSTO pilot program is designed to validate Koppamurra’s process flowsheet at scale, while
generating critical engineering and operational data to support feasibility studies and project design.
Importantly, the program will produce Mixed Rare Earth Oxide (MREO) product for testing and
qualification by potential offtake and strategic partners, supporting AR3’s pathway toward
commercial agreements and future project financing.
The pilot work is co-funded as part of AR3’s $5 million grant funding provided through the Australian
Government International Partnerships in Critical Minerals program, highlighting strong government
backing for the development of domestic rare earth supply chains.
Figure 2: Koppamurra sample material being prepared for the pilot-scale program.
2026: a pivotal year for Koppamurra
AR3 is entering a milestone-rich period, with several key catalysts expected over the coming months.
The Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) is nearing completion and will incorporate the outcomes of recent
metallurgical work and the finalised process flowsheet, providing a clear pathway toward
development.
Pilot-scale operations will commence shortly thereafter, generating both technical validation and
product samples, while the Company continues to progress its Mining Lease application, targeted
for submission later this year.
These milestones position AR3 to advance Koppamurra at a time when the global rare earths
thematic benefits from strongly supportive policy in Australia, the US and other G-7 nations,
driven by increasing demand for secure and diversified rare earth supply chains.
The announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Australian Rare Earths Limited.
For further information please contact:
Australian Rare Earths Limited Media Enquiries
Travis Beinke Jessica Fertig
Managing Director and CEO Tau Media
T: 1 300 646 100 E: jessica@taumedia.com.au
Engage and Contribute at the AR3 investor hub: https://investorhub.ar3.com.au
About Australian Rare Earths Limited
Australian Rare Earths (AR3) is a diversified critical minerals company, strategically positioned to meet the growing global demand for
uranium and rare earth elements:
• AR3's Koppamurra Rare Earths Project in South Australia and Victoria is a significant deposit of light and heavy rare earths, which
has secured important Australian government support through a $5 million grant to accelerate development. With technical
support from global advanced industrial materials manufacturer, Neo Performance Materials, AR3 is progressing toward a Pre-
Feasibility Study and a demonstration facility, solidifying its role in diversifying global rare earth supply chains for the clean energy
transition.
• AR3’s large~8,000km²Overland Uranium ProjectinSouthAustraliashows stronguranium discoverypotential, withinitialdrilling
identifying opportunities for substantial near-surface and deeper deposits.
With strategic projects and strong government support, AR3 is poised for significant growth in the critical minerals market.
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