Lindian locks in cheap Kazakh acid supply as China export ban looms

Lindian Resources has moved to bulletproof the downstream strategy for its 51 per cent-owned Sareco mixed rare earths concentrate facility in Kazakhstan, securing a long-term, low-cost domestic supply of sulphuric acid just as global markets prepare for a massive supply shock.

The company has established a supply arrangement with the Stepnogorsk sulphuric acid plant (SSAP). This regional heavyweight and state-backed producer forms part of Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna.

The move looks like a masterstroke in timing, coming just days before China is expected to implement a near-total ban on sulphuric acid exports from May. 

Industry reports suggest the Chinese ban will yank some 4.65 million tonnes of sulphuric acid from the global export market, a move that appears likely to send prices skyrocketing and leave import-dependent regions such as Chile, Indonesia, Africa and the Middle East scrambling for supply.

In contrast, Lindian has locked in a domestic source within the same industrial area as its Sareco processing facility. The SSAP plant currently churns out about 180,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid per annum; however, it is already undergoing an expansion to double that capacity to 360,000 tonnes annually.

The financial upside for Lindian looks compelling. Recent pricing for sulphuric acid in Kazakhstan sits between US$100 (A$140) and US$130 (A$180) per tonne – significantly cheaper than the A$150 to A$300 per tonne rates typically seen in the domestic market. 

This price advantage, combined with the logistical benefits of being near the source, provides Lindian with a formidable cost buffer against global price volatility.

Lindian Resources executive director Zac Komur said: “Access to sulphuric acid supply in Kazakhstan is an important part of Lindian Resources’ downstream strategy. With a state-backed supplier and competitive pricing, this supports reagent availability and cost stability.”

Notably, the new sulphuric acid supply deal comes on the back of Lindian’s recent strong metallurgical results. Independent test work by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation confirmed that monazite concentrate from the company’s flagship Kangankunde project in Malawi "cracks" cleanly using a conventional sulphuric acid bake and leach flowsheet. 

The tests delivered impressive recoveries of up to 94 per cent total rare earth oxides and showcased a whopping 97 per cent neodymium-praseodymium recovery rate. Additionally, reaction times were fast, with more than 90 per cent of the rare earths dissolving within the first hour.

The results also showed a lean appetite for sulphuric acid, with consumption ranging from an impressively low rate of just 1.2 to 1.4 tonnes per tonne of rare earths concentrate.

While the Kazakh processing facility is a key pillar of Lindian’s downstream ambitions, the company’s cornerstone project remains its world-class Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi. 

Stage one construction at Kangankunde is well underway, with the project designed to produce a premium 55 per cent total rare earth oxides concentrate at operating costs in the lowest global quartile.

The project is fully funded post a recent hefty A$100 million placement and a strategic tie-up with Iluka Resources.

Under the deal, Iluka provided a $A$32 million debt facility to Lindian, with Lindian agreeing to supply 6000 tonnes per annum of rare earth monazite to Iluka’s Eneabba refinery in WA for 15 years.

Lindian also holds significant bauxite assets in Guinea and Tanzania, providing further depth to its critical minerals portfolio.

With the sulphuric acid supply secured and the processing pathway proven, Lindian’s next steps will focus on continuing the construction of stage one at Kangankunde and further technical optimisation of its Kazakh downstream facility.

It’s been a savvy piece of corporate manoeuvring by Lindian. While others in the rare earths sector face a looming sulphuric acid shortage, the company has successfully insulated itself through a strategic, state-backed partnership. 

By de-risking its processing and securing vital supply lines, the company looks to have gained a clear cost advantage. With construction moving quickly in Malawi, Lindian appears well-positioned to transition to a major downstream player in the critical minerals market.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au