Australian Mines Confirms Water Licence for Flemington 180tpa Scandium PFS
Australian Mines confirms valid water licence as Flemington PFS eyes scale-up to 180 tpa scandium
Australian Mines has confirmed that its existing Water Access Licence WAL41718 remains current and valid, forming the baseline water supply for the 100%-owned Flemington Scandium Project in New South Wales. Water studies are advancing to support the fast-tracked Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), which is assessing the potential to scale annual Sc₂O₃ production from 60 tpa up to 180 tpa. The Company notes that the up-to-180 tpa figure is an assessment case being evaluated as part of the PFS and does not represent a new production target or forecast financial information.
Securing a confirmed water supply de-risks a critical project input for any scandium development, particularly as the Company advances technical studies toward a final development configuration.
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Water supply — the baseline and the options being assessed
The existing licence, WAL41718, sits within the Lachlan system and is held by the Company’s subsidiary Flemington Mining Operations Pty Ltd. The licence was acquired on the open market in 2017 and has been confirmed as current and valid as part of the PFS assessment. The Flemington Scoping Study estimated steady-state water demand of approximately 454 ML/year for the 60 tpa development case, based on a projected average feed grade of 573 ppm Sc over the first 15 years and a scandium recovery rate of 90.8%.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water Access Licence | WAL41718 (Lachlan system, valid) |
| Steady-state demand (60 tpa case) | ~454 ML/year |
| Average feed grade (first 15 yrs) | 573 ppm Sc |
| Sc recovery | 90.8% |
| Supplementary sources under review | Surface water + groundwater |
The PFS is also assessing water requirements and infrastructure for the potential up-to-180 tpa scenario, alongside supplementary surface water and groundwater options. These options are being evaluated with the associated infrastructure, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Hydrogeological investigations to define groundwater potential
The Company is currently reviewing proposals for hydrogeological investigations as part of the PFS. The scope of the investigations includes:
- Assessing groundwater availability and quality.
- Determining the potential contribution of groundwater to the Project’s overall water requirements and supply.
- Feeding into the broader Project water balance alongside surface-water options.
Groundwater work could supplement the existing entitlement, strengthening supply security for a larger development configuration.
Andrew Nesbitt, Managing Director
“Confirming that Flemington’s existing Water Access Licence remains current and valid provides an important foundation for the PFS. We are now assessing this entitlement alongside supplementary surface-water and groundwater options, including planned hydrogeological investigations, to define and secure the water requirements for the Project.”
Why water matters for a scandium project
Scandium is a rare, high-value critical mineral used in aerospace alloys and solid oxide fuel cells. Processing scandium oxide (Sc₂O₃) is water-intensive, making secured water supply a foundational de-risking step for any project moving through feasibility. Confirming a valid water licence early removes a common permitting and development bottleneck before capital-intensive stages, strengthening the project’s path to development.
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What comes next for Flemington
The Company has outlined the following next steps for the PFS:
- Advance hydrogeological investigations (proposals under review).
- Complete water requirements assessment for both 60 tpa and up-to-180 tpa scenarios.
- Assess supplementary surface-water and groundwater options alongside infrastructure, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
- Progress the fast-tracked PFS toward completion.
Previous milestones include the Scoping Study (Amended, 8 May 2026) and the PFS fast-track announcement (27 July 2026). The Company reiterates that the up-to-180 tpa scenario is an assessment case only and does not represent a new production target or forecast financial information. The 60 tpa production target’s material assumptions remain unchanged from the 8 May 2026 announcement.
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