Overview

• The Victorian government issued work plan approval on June 25, clearing the last regulatory hurdle for excavation of more than 1,140 hectares of farmland.
• Astron has secured a binding contract with Energy Fuels to process rare earth concentrate in Utah and a non-binding framework agreement with JinDi for over 70 percent of its heavy mineral output.
• Full-scale mining is scheduled to start in 2027 with a projected 41-year lifespan targeting neodymium, praseodymium, zirconium, titanium and trace uranium production.
• The project is projected to support about 200 direct mine jobs and inject approximately $205 million annually into the regional economy.
• Local farmers dispute the adequacy of progressive land rehabilitation plans, prompting the creation of a community-led environmental review committee to monitor mine impacts.