The company added that this designation highlights Luni’s national significance and its potential to strengthen the Australian economy. The status also provides case management and coordinated access to the federal government through the Major Projects Facilitation Agency of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
The Minister of Industry and Innovation is said to have granted the status to Luni for an initial period of three years.
“The scale and quality of Luni make it the most significant niobium discovery globally in the last 70 years and deserves its place as a project of national significance,” said Paul Savich, managing director of WA Resources.
Luni was labeled “the most important niobium discovery in more than 70 years” in 2024, following its discovery on July 1, 2024. derived source update of 200 million tons at 1.0 percent niobium pentoxide.
The project was discovered in November 2022 during WA1 Resources’ maiden drilling program in West Arunta.
“Since the first MRE, 46 percent of the niobium present in Luni has been upgraded to the indicated classification from the two main high-grade zones (eastern and western), providing a strong basis for development studies and potential future operational flexibility,” WA Resource wrote on its website. website.
The company also published on November 17 test results of infill drilling at Luni, which spans 67.3 meters with a niobium pentoxide content of 5.4 percent.
“Activities at Luni have been expanded and diversified, including the construction of further pre-development works in support of detailed investigations, which will culminate in the delivery of key project milestones in 2026,” Savich said in announcing the results.
The company said it expects to update Luni’s mineral resource estimate in 2026.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, have no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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