Ionic Rare Earths Limited (IonicRE) has received a provisional Stage 1 Large scale Mining Licence over Retention Licence (RL) 1693 from the Ugandan Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines on 28 December 2023 for the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project.
According to the Ugandan Mining Cadastre portal, this is the first large-scale mining licence given in Uganda under the Mining Act 2022. The Honourable Dr Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), is due to sign the documents this week before they are gazetted.
IonicRe Managing Director Tim Harrison said the provisional award from the Ugandan government is a significant step towards the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project and the ongoing development of the country’s mining industry.
“This is an important step forward for Ionic Rare Earths in mining, refining, and recycling the heavy rare earths critical for the energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and defence,” Harrison stated.
“This reinforces the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earth Project as one of the world’s largest and most advanced development-ready heavy rare earth element assets, and we look forward to progressing the next steps and commissioning our Demonstration Plant at Makuutu,” he added.
