Rare earth elements are critical in the production of components used in industries such as clean technology, advanced electronics, electric cars, wind turbines, glass and ceramics, chemical and consumer products. While China has 50 per cent of the world’s reserves and has produced more than 95 per cent of the world’s rare earth supply, a decrease in production and export has caused prices to rise and alternative suppliers are looking to meet global demand.

With a potentially low-cost, long-term rare earth project located in Tanzania, Peak Resources is currently developing its Ngualla project – the fifth-largest rare earth deposit in the world outside China.

Peak’s vision is to generate shareholder value through the development of its high-grade, low uranium and thorium Ngualla rare earth site. The company recently completed a feasibility study (proof of concept) on a sulphuric acid leaching process that uses proven technology with lower capital and operating costs (leaching refers to the process of extracting minerals from a solid by dissolving them in liquid).

Peak’s process provides significant environmental advantages compared to other leaching methods and is a major step forward in the development of Ngualla into a low-cost, long-term rare earth site.

“Achieving this milestone after only nine months of test work is outstanding,” says Richard Beazley, Peak’s managing director. “This reaffirms Peak’s target of commencing production by early 2016. As we create a sustainable project, we also intend to drive our social responsibility initiatives forward.”

The company has been listed on the Australian Stock Exchange since 2006 and this year also listed on the New York-based OTCQX market. The OTCQX listing allows Peak to develop and expand outside the Australian capital market. By reaching out to North America, Beazley hopes to generate capital and invite institutional investors onto Peak’s share register.

“We are now in a position to engage with strategic partners and off-take customers in China and other markets in the Far East,” says Beazley. “We want to commence discussions regarding long-term product supply and facilitate commercial financing arrangements to deliver the project to production.”

With a number of additional projects in the Lake Victoria Goldfields area of Tanzania and a dedicated exploration office in Mwanza, Peak’s growth strategy looks set to position the company as a leading rare earth producer.

Australian-based mining companies are continuing to benefit from global market demands. Through its continuing efforts, Vector Resources is continuing to discover high-grade gold assets at its various projects. Today, the company is in a strong position to attract significant foreign investment and create a company dedicated to delivering shareholder value.

In recent years, the Perth-based gold and iron ore developer has focused on increasing its suite of quality projects in some of the most successful “gold producing” areas of Western Australia.

Covering more than 2,029 hectares and containing high-grade quartz vein hosted gold mineralisation, Mount Dimer is the company’s flagship project, while Gwendolyn remains the highest priority exploration project. Both projects were added to the company’s portfolio early last year through the acquisition of Golden Iron Resources.

Vector has seven projects within the Southern Cross region and an additional project located within the prolific gold producing region of Leonora.

Exploration efforts have lead to a succession of “high-grade hits” and the company recently secured a significant Chinese-backed investor, Eagle Brilliant Holdings.

With this strategic partnership firmly in place, the company is shifting its Gwendolyn East gold project in Western Australia towards production.

“The Board was extremely pleased, not only to welcome this strategic investment partner’s long-term commitment, but also the opportunity to partner with an experienced company that can take Vector into production,” says Glyn Povey, managing director of Vector Resources.

While the company’s gold exploration assets are attracting a lot of investor attention, Vector is also working alongside Cazaly Resources and Anglo American at Earaheedy Joint Venture, a promising iron ore project.

As Vector continues to acquire and develop highly prospective iron ore and gold resource assets in Australia, Chinese firms are continuing to invest in Australia. The Chinese have played an important role in developing Australia’s mining sector and continue to benefit from strategic investments and successful partnerships.

“The support Australia received from China through their imports of Australian iron ore and other commodities helped Australia to stabilise its economy following the global financial crisis,” Povey says.

“Our track record as a successful resource-driven economy allows us to position ourselves as a safe haven for Chinese investors. Australian companies will continue to pursue strategic Chinese partners for future projects and build on our close business ties to China.”