Brazilian Critical Minerals Taps Altris to Advance Ema Rare Earth Project to FEED
Key Takeaways
- BCM has appointed Altris Engineering as Lead Design Engineer for the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase of the Ema Rare Earth Project, the next major engineering stage between feasibility and construction.
- Altris previously led the Bankable Feasibility Study engineering, meaning deep project knowledge transfers directly into FEED without the cost or risk of onboarding a new consultant.
- The FEED programme is expected to complete in approximately 24 weeks, covering multidisciplinary engineering, equipment specifications, vendor quotations, and refinement of capital cost estimates and implementation schedules.
- Ema is described by Altris Managing Director Michael Ehlers as one of the most advanced ionic adsorption clay rare earth projects seeking to establish this type of operation in the Western world outside China.
- After FEED, detailed engineering and construction documentation will be handed to a Brazilian contractor operating under the CONFEA/CREA regulatory framework, with Altris providing technical continuity through the transition.
Altris Engineering appointed to advance Ema Project into FEED phase
Brazilian Critical Minerals (ASX: BCM) has appointed Altris Engineering as Lead Design Engineer for the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase of its flagship Ema Rare Earth Project in Brazil. This marks the next major engineering stage for Ema, moving the project from feasibility towards financing, procurement, Final Investment Decision (FID) and ultimately construction.
The appointment carries a continuity advantage — Altris also led the engineering component of the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS). The FEED programme is expected to complete over approximately 24 weeks. Ema is an ionic adsorption clay rare earth project near Apuí, Amazonas State, Brazil, developed via In-Situ Recovery (ISR).
Progression through defined engineering stages is a visible de-risking marker on the path to FID. Each stage reduces technical uncertainty and advances the project closer to a construction decision.
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
Why retaining Altris matters for Ema’s development timeline
Retaining the BFS engineering team into FEED avoids the time, cost and technical risk of transferring the project to a new consultant. Altris has already developed detailed knowledge of Ema’s process design, infrastructure requirements, execution strategy, capital costs and key development risks. That knowledge base transfers directly into the next phase.
FEED’s purpose is to mature the existing engineering, confirm major equipment selections, optimise the process plant and infrastructure design, develop procurement packages, and refine the capital cost estimate and implementation schedule. The shift here is from feasibility to execution focus — finalising key engineering decisions and reducing technical and execution risk ahead of FID.
Andrew Reid, Managing Director (BCM)
“The focus of FEED is now increasingly about execution — finalising key engineering decisions, obtaining vendor quotations, advancing procurement packages, optimising capital and operating costs and further reducing the technical and execution risks ahead of a Final Investment Decision. This work will substantially increase the engineering maturity of Ema and provide the platform required to move efficiently into detailed design, procurement and ultimately construction.”
What FEED involves — engineering, procurement and execution readiness
The FEED scope covers multiple engineering and procurement workstreams designed to bring Ema to a substantially higher state of technical and commercial readiness.
FEED scope:
-
Multidisciplinary engineering across the Ema processing facilities — from receipt of pregnant leach solution (PLS) through impurity removal, Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) precipitation, dewatering and product load-out
-
Development of equipment specifications, datasheets and enquiry documentation
-
Coordination of Requests for Quotation and technical evaluation of vendor proposals — targeting technically conforming quotations
-
Refinement of project execution strategy, capital cost estimate and implementation schedule
-
Ongoing value engineering to improve capital efficiency, operating costs, constructability and operational performance
Bringing major equipment packages to technically conforming quotations gives greater certainty on pricing and delivery schedules ahead of execution. That is a key de-risking step. It removes one of the major variables — equipment cost and lead time — from the construction equation.
Understanding ISR and ionic clay rare earths
Two concepts underpin the Ema Project: In-Situ Recovery (ISR) and ionic adsorption clay rare earths.
In-Situ Recovery (ISR): Magnesium sulphate solution is used to recover rare earth elements from the mineralised clay profile. The recovered rare earths are subsequently processed to produce a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate suitable for export and downstream refining. ISR avoids large-scale open-pit mining or underground development.
Ionic adsorption clay rare earths: Historically concentrated in China and parts of Southeast Asia, this deposit type has become strategically significant as countries outside China seek to establish domestic rare earth supply chains. Ema is one of the most advanced projects seeking to establish this type of operation in the Western world.
The strategic framing here is clear: Ema ties into the broader theme of establishing rare earth supply outside China. That is what gives the project its commercial and geopolitical relevance.
Michael Ehlers, Managing Director (Altris)
“This stage is about increasing project certainty — advancing engineering maturity, firming up major equipment selections and vendor pricing, refining capital costs and schedules, and reducing the key technical and execution risks ahead of financing and Final Investment Decision. In-situ recovery of ionic clay rare earths has historically been concentrated in China and parts of Southeast Asia, and Ema is now one of the most advanced projects seeking to establish this type of operation in the Western world.”
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
The road from FEED to construction
After FEED, detailed engineering and construction documentation will be undertaken by a suitably qualified Brazilian contractor operating within the Brazilian CONFEA/CREA regulatory framework. Altris will assist with the transition and provide technical handover and design continuity to preserve the engineering intent established through the BFS and FEED phases.
This transition plan reflects the regulatory and practical requirements of construction in Brazil. The engineering handover is designed to maintain continuity while shifting execution responsibility to a local contractor with the necessary regulatory standing.
| Stage | Status | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| BFS (Bankable Feasibility Study) | Completed (led by Altris) | Established process design, infrastructure, capital costs, development risks |
| FEED | Appointed (~24 weeks expected) | Mature engineering, confirm equipment, procurement packages, refine capital/schedule |
| Detailed design & construction engineering | Next (Brazilian contractor, CONFEA/CREA framework) | Construction documentation |
| Financing / Procurement / FID | Ahead | Final Investment Decision milestone |
BCM is systematically de-risking Ema through a structured engineering progression pathway. Each stage reduces uncertainty and advances the project closer to a construction decision. Management believes Ema has the potential to become a strategically important, low-cost source of rare earths outside China. The FEED phase is the next visible step in that progression.
Want the Next Rare Earth Breakout in Your Inbox?
Join 30,000+ investors receiving FREE breaking ASX rare earth and critical minerals news within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis. Click the “Free Alerts” button at Discovery Alert to get real-time alerts the moment market-moving announcements hit the ASX.