Jun 12 2012
Robert Mackay, President and CEO of Stans Energy Corp. is pleased to announce that Plant #3 of the company's Kashka REE Plant (KRP) will be ready for operational testing by mid-July 2012, and by August 30, 2012, the KRP is expected to be ready to produce its first product - Heavy Rare Earth Oxides of Dysprosium, Gadolinium, and Erbium to 99.99% purity.
The three heavy rare earths are to be recovered from loaded ion exchange resins located in the circuit since plant operations were suspended in the early 1990s. Since the acquisition of KRP in spring 2011, Stans Energy has undertaken an extensive refurbishment program at Plant #3. Although Plant #3 had not operated for nearly 20 years, much of the production equipment has remained in place and is ready to be restarted.
"We are extremely pleased with the progress made to date at Plant #3. Through the course of our renovation, and in consultation with our technical advisors at VNIIHT, we discovered the potential for recovering nearly two tonnes of mixed rare earths oxides from concentrate that remains in the holding tanks. The concentrate consists of Dysprosium, Gadolinium, Samarium, Yttrium, Holmium, Ytterbium, Erbium, Thulium and Lutetium This production test run will demonstrate the operational viability of the KRP plant. This validation of our proven metallurgical processes and production assets will solidify our position as one of the front-runners to Rare Earth Oxide production outside of China. In this period of transition from project development through infrastructure build-out, and ultimately production readiness, Stans Energy will continue the evaluation of other potential sources of concentrates. Above all, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our engineering and technical teams on this milestone achievement and for their contribution to company progress."
The Russian Research Institute of Chemical Technology (VNIIHT) is currently designing new technology that will be incorporated into a new Plant #1. This plant was historically used to both crack the concentrate from the milling stage and remove radioactivity before it was sent to Plant #2 for solvent extraction. Based on consultations with VNIIHT, Stans expects the process circuit design to be finalized in Q3 2012. This design will be incorporated into the Company's Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), which will begin in Q3 2012.
Plant #2 was previously used for solvent extraction of rare earths. Stans is investigating whether to rehabilitate Plant #2, or to construct a 1500 tonnes per year new plant using plastic solvent extraction equipment. Until that decision is made, pilot scale extraction testing will be continued in Plant #3.
About VNIIHT
The Russian Research Institute of Chemical Technology (VNIIHT) was founded in April 1951. VNIIHT's objective was to focus on the exploration and development of technologies and raw materials for use in the Soviet nuclear energy sector. VNIIHT technologies were and continue to be implemented during the main stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. This includes the processing of Uranium and Rare Metal Ores through to the generation of nuclear-pure materials. VNIIHT's 60 years of chemical technology experience combined with their capabilities of executing the complete cycle of rare earths research, development, and production will give Stans Energy a significant advantage relative to its competitors outside of China. VNIIHT is a division of ROSATOM.
About Stans Energy
Stans Energy Corp. is a resource development company focused on progressing Heavy Rare Earth (HRE) properties in areas of the Former Soviet Union. In December 2009, Stans acquired a 20-year mining license for the past-producing Kutessay II rare earth mine from the Kyrgyz Republic. On May 26, 2011 Stans completed the purchase of the Kashka Rare Earth Processing Plant (KRP) the same plant that previously refined REEs historically from Kutessay II. The KRP was the only hard rock plant to produce all rare earth elements outside of China, producing 120 different metals, alloys, and oxides. For over 30 years, Kutessay II produced 80% of the rare earth metals for the former Soviet Union.
We seek safe harbour.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, use of proceeds from the Offering, the completion of the Offering, the continued advancement of the company's general business development, research development and the company's development of mineral exploration projects. When used in this press release , the words "will", "shall", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intent", "may", "project", "plan", "should" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Although Stans Energy Corp. believes that their expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the potential that fluctuations in the marketplace for the sale of minerals, the inability to implement corporate strategies, the ability to obtain financing and other risks disclosed in our filings made with Canadian Securities Regulators.