Scandium International Mining Announces Grant of New Mining Lease at Nyngan Scandium Project

Executive Summary

• The NSW Department of Primary Industries granted Mining Lease No 1893 to Scandium International’s subsidiary EMC Metals Australia for the Nyngan Scandium Project.
• The lease provides a 21‑year term (until Oct 2046) and gives regulatory certainty to pursue strategic partnerships, offtake contracts, financing and a Final Investment Decision.
• The project is designed as a small surface mine producing ~75,000 t of limonite ore per year with an average scandium head grade of 409 ppm, targeting ~38,500 kg of Sc₂O₃ annually over a 20‑year mine life.

Key Details

• License Grant: Mining Lease No 1893 (Act 1992) issued on Oct 7, 2025, superseding Mining Lease No 1792.
• Term: Initial 21‑year term ending Oct 2046, with renewal rights thereafter.
• Project Design: Surface operation extracting ~75,000 t of limonite ore per year; average scandium head grade 409 ppm (pre‑high‑grading).
• Production Target: Approx. 38,500 kg Sc₂O₃ per year at 98–99.9 % purity (Sc₂O₃).
• Construction & Ramp‑Up: 1‑year construction period followed by a 24‑month ramp‑up to nameplate capacity.
• Mine Life: 20 years at nameplate capacity, utilizing <20 % of the total Mineral Resource Estimate.
• Strategic Importance: First primary scandium mining project globally; critical metal for semiconductors, solid‑state batteries, defense, and other emerging applications.
• Future Plans: Update Defined Feasibility Study (DFS) to reflect capital/operational efficiencies and high‑grading opportunities; advance dialogues on partnerships, offtake agreements, and financing leading to a Final Investment Decision.

Notable Quotes

“With this mining lease now in place on the entire deposit, the Company is well‑positioned to progress towards construction and eventual production…” – Peter Evensen, President & CEO

“The Nyngan Scandium Project provides the most economic primary source of supply of scandium outside China and Russia.” – Peter Evensen