Scandium International Mining Receives Final Regulatory Approval for Critical Metal Project in Australia

Scandium International Mining Corp. has achieved a significant breakthrough with the official approval of Mining Lease No 1893, marking the completion of a lengthy regulatory process that spanned over nine decades for the company’s Nyngan Scandium Project in New South Wales. The Department of Primary Industrials and Regional Development—NSW Resources granted the mining lease to EMC Metals Australia Pty Ltd, Scandium International’s subsidiary, on October 7, 2025, following more than nine years of technical, environmental, and regulatory submissions.

Project Parameters and Production Outlook

The Nyngan operation is engineered as a surface mining venture with considerable production capacity. According to the Defined Feasibility Study, the project targets approximately 75,000 tons of limonite ore extraction annually. Over the course of 20 years, the average limonite scandium head grade will reach 409 parts per million before considering high-grading opportunities. The facility is projected to produce roughly 38,500 kilograms of scandium oxide per year, with product purity ranging between 98 and 99.9% Sc2O3.

Development timelines indicate a 12-month construction window, followed by a 24-month ramp-up phase to achieve nameplate production capacity. Notably, the 20-year operational period will utilize less than 20% of the identified Mineral Resource Estimate, suggesting substantial room for extended operations or enhanced productivity.

Strategic Positioning in Global Markets

The mining lease approval arrives at a critical juncture for critical mineral supply chains. Western nations have recently prioritized establishing independent, reliable sources of scandium outside traditional suppliers like China and Russia. Peter Evensen, Chief Executive Officer of Scandium International Mining, emphasized that “the Nyngan Scandium Project represents the most economically viable primary source of scandium supply for Western markets.”

The project addresses multiple end-use scenarios, including emerging applications in semiconductors, solid-state battery technology, and defense systems. The company intends to refine its feasibility assessment to capture operational improvements and potential ore grading enhancements aligned with customer specifications.

Regulatory Framework and Future Development

Mining Lease No 1893 operates under a 21-year term extending through October 2046, with provisions for renewal renewal beyond that period. This regulatory certainty facilitates Scandium International Mining’s progression toward strategic partnership discussions, offtake agreement negotiations, and eventual project financing and Final Investment Decision.

Located approximately 20 kilometers west of Nyngan township, the development is positioned to become the world’s inaugural primary scandium mining operation. The project represents a significant economic opportunity for New South Wales to establish leadership in sustainable critical mineral extraction, while supporting national supply chain diversification objectives.