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Lindian secures in-country acid supply as global sulphuric market tightens Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock <\/p>\n Lindian secures in-country acid supply as global sulphuric market tightens Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock <\/p>\n
Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF)<\/a>\u00a0has updated investors on sulphuric acid supply arrangements for its SARECO<\/a> mixed rare earth carbonate facility in Kazakhstan, following reports China will impose a near-total ban on sulphuric acid exports from May 1, potentially removing around 4.65 million tonnes of supply from global markets.<\/p>\n The SARECO facility sources sulphuric acid from the nearby Stepnogorsk Sulphuric Acid Plant (SSAP), a state-backed producer within Kazakhstan\u2019s Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund.<\/p>\n SSAP currently produces about 180,000 tonnes per annum, with expansion underway to lift capacity to around 360,000tpa, providing a growing in-country reagent source for the operation.<\/p>\n The close proximity of the plant to SARECO is expected to offer logistical advantages and support continuity of supply, reducing reliance on imported acid.<\/p>\n This positioning is increasingly relevant as global sulphuric acid markets tighten, with supply constraints expected to impact import-dependent regions such as Chile, Indonesia, Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n Lindian noted that access to domestic supply may help limit exposure to price volatility and supply disruptions, with Kazakhstan pricing estimated at US$100\u2013130 per tonne, below typical Western market levels.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to sulphuric acid supply in Kazakhstan is an important part of Lindian\u2019s downstream strategy. With a state-backed supplier and competitive pricing, this supports reagent availability and cost stability. Testwork confirms strong recoveries using a conventional flowsheet, with acid consumption already in a competitive range and optimisation underway. This positions Lindian to deliver a scalable, low-cost downstream operation with reduced exposure to global supply risk,\u201d\u00a0Lindian executive director\u00a0Zac Komur said.<\/p>\n Testwork highlights efficient acid use and strong recoveries <\/p>\n Metallurgical testwork conducted by ANSTO has demonstrated strong processing performance from Kangankunde monazite concentrate using a conventional sulphuric acid bake and leach flowsheet.<\/p>\n Results showed up to 94% total rare earth yield (TREY) and up to 97% neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) recovery, with more than 90% rare earth dissolution occurring within the first hour.<\/p>\n Initial testwork also indicated relatively low sulphuric acid consumption of 1.2\u20131.4 tonnes per tonne of concentrate, with further optimisation underway to reduce reagent use while maintaining high recoveries.<\/p>\n