Viridis Mining Names EPCM Partner to Drive Colossus Rare Earths to 2028 Output
Key Takeaways
- Viridis Mining has appointed Sedgman / Blossom as preferred EPCM partner for the Colossus Rare Earth Project following a competitive tender process that evaluated 11 international and Brazilian engineering groups.
- A US$3.0 million Bridging Phase budget has been approved to advance detailed engineering, manage long-lead equipment packages, and progress permitting activities ahead of Final Investment Decision.
- Sedgman / Blossom has already completed a "Cold Eyes" review of the DFS design, identifying capital optimisation opportunities before formal EPCM activities have even commenced.
- The EPCM appointment follows a sequence of completed milestones — DFS, up to US$120 million in strategic equity funding, 138kV grid connection contract, and first major long-lead equipment order — with FID the next major hold point.
- Targeted steady-state production remains October 2028, positioning Colossus as a potential large-scale non-Chinese heavy rare earth producer at a time of acute Western supply chain diversification pressure.
Colossus EPCM partner secured as execution accelerates toward 2028 production
Viridis Mining and Minerals (ASX: VMM) has appointed Sedgman Pty Limited and Blossom Consultoria e Assessoria S.A. (“Sedgman / Blossom”) as its preferred Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) partner for the Colossus Rare Earth Project, following a comprehensive competitive tender process. The company has approved expenditure of up to US$3.0 million for the pre-Final Investment Decision (FID) Bridging Phase, with targeted steady-state production set for October 2028.
The announcement, released on 10 September 2026, follows a sequence of execution milestones including completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), securing strategic equity funding, awarding the 138kV grid connection contract, and placing the project’s first major long-lead equipment order. Critical-path activities at Colossus are now firmly underway.
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Why this EPCM appointment matters for Colossus
A competitive process, not a rushed decision
The selection of Sedgman / Blossom was not made quickly. Viridis issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to 11 international and Brazilian engineering and project delivery groups, followed by a detailed Invitation to Tender (ITT), contractor proposals, and a rigorous technical and commercial evaluation before contractual review and clarification.
That structured process matters because the EPCM partner will be responsible for managing the full technical delivery of Colossus through to construction. A rushed or poorly evaluated appointment at this stage would carry significant schedule and cost risk for a project of this scale.
The Sedgman / Blossom delivery model
The integrated delivery model combines Sedgman’s international project execution, engineering and procurement capability with Blossom’s established engineering presence in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The resulting structure spans Perth, Belo Horizonte, Canada, and the Poços de Caldas project site, providing both global procurement reach and strong local Brazilian execution capability.
Importantly, Sedgman / Blossom has already completed a limited “Cold Eyes” review of the DFS design, identifying opportunities for additional capital optimisation during execution. That prior engagement provides additional confidence in the team’s execution methodology before EPCM activities formally commence.
Managing Director Rafael Moreno
“The appointment of Sedgman / Blossom as our preferred EPCM partner is another important step in the execution of Colossus. We have undertaken a comprehensive competitive process to select the team we believe is best equipped to deliver our execution strategy, which combines significant Brazilian engineering and project delivery capability with specialist equipment and expertise from leading global suppliers… Importantly, we are not waiting for FID to commence this work… This allows us to continue de-risking the execution schedule and maintain momentum towards our targeted 2028 production schedule while limiting our financial commitment ahead of FID.”
What is EPCM and why does it matter for rare earth project delivery?
EPCM stands for Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management. Rather than the company managing technical delivery in-house, the EPCM partner takes responsibility for detailed engineering design, sourcing and procuring major equipment and materials, and overseeing construction on site. For a large-scale project like Colossus, this is a specialised function requiring significant resources and international experience.
Appointing an EPCM partner ahead of FID, rather than after it, is a deliberate de-risking strategy. Advancing engineering maturity before the investment decision is made means key design work is further progressed, long-lead equipment delivery timelines are locked in earlier, and the project can move into full construction more rapidly once FID is reached. For Colossus and its October 2028 production target, maintaining that schedule discipline is critical.
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The critical-path roadmap to 2028 production
Pre-FID Bridging Phase — what happens now
Under the approved US$3.0 million Bridging Phase budget, Sedgman / Blossom will commence activities immediately across the following areas:
- Progress detailed engineering towards design freeze
- Finalise plant layout and overall execution plans
- Manage awarded long-lead equipment packages
- Prepare subsequent procurement packages for award
- Advance construction planning and site readiness
- Complete key permitting activities
The full EPCM contract remains subject to final contractual terms and FID. The Bridging Phase structure is designed to advance critical-path activities while limiting Viridis’s capital commitment before that investment decision is made — FID acts as a contractual hold point.
The Colossus Definitive Feasibility Study, completed in August 2026, established the technical and economic foundation that the Sedgman / Blossom team is now building on as it advances detailed engineering toward design freeze.
Where this sits in the execution sequence
| Milestone | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) | Complete | Announced 20 August 2026 |
| Strategic equity funding (up to US$120M) | Secured | Announced 20 August 2026 |
| 138kV grid connection contract | Awarded | Announced June 2026 |
| First major long-lead equipment order | Placed | Announced September 2026 |
| EPCM partner (Sedgman / Blossom) | Mobilising | This announcement |
| Final Investment Decision (FID) | Upcoming | Pre-cursor to full construction |
| Targeted steady-state production | October 2028 | Post-FID execution schedule |
The strategic case — why 2028 is the prize
Large-scale non-Chinese heavy rare earth production remains extremely limited. Achieving production in 2028 would position Colossus as an important new source of diversified supply of both light and high-value heavy rare earths, at a time when governments and strategic partners are increasingly seeking alternatives to Chinese supply chains. Maintaining the targeted production schedule is a key priority for Viridis.
Canadian government backing, secured alongside the broader strategic equity package, reflects the geopolitical weight now attached to rare earth supply diversification as Western governments seek to reduce exposure to Chinese-controlled production.
Ready to Track the Colossus Rare Earth Project’s Path to 2028 Production?
With a preferred EPCM partner now mobilising, US$3.0 million committed to pre-FID engineering, and a sequence of critical-path milestones already completed, the Colossus Rare Earth Project is advancing rapidly toward its targeted October 2028 steady-state production date. The appointment of Sedgman / Blossom represents a significant de-risking step for what could become one of the few large-scale non-Chinese heavy rare earth producers in the world.
Explore the full investment profile and latest project updates for Viridis Mining and Minerals by visiting the Colossus project page on Discovery Alert.