Critica Advances Rare Earths with 84% TREO Milestone at Jupiter

A Breakthrough in Rare Earth Processing

Critica Limited (ASX – CRI) has reached a significant technical milestone with the successful production of a high-grade Mixed Rare Earth Product (MREP) from its flagship Jupiter Deposit in Western Australia. The product, assaying an impressive 84% total rare earth oxides (TREO), confirms the effectiveness of Critica’s beneficiation-first flowsheet strategy, which focuses on physical upgrading before chemical processing.

This achievement not only validates the company’s integrated approach but also substantially de-risks the processing flowsheet, marking a clear transition from an explorer to a developer. The beneficiation process has demonstrated approximately 95% mass rejection and a 6 to 10 times grade uplift, supporting a simple and capital-efficient pathway to producing saleable rare earth products.

Pilot Plant and Parallel Optimization Efforts

Critica is currently commissioning a 3,000 kg closed-circuit pilot plant at the Centre of Science and Technology of Minerals and Environment (GAVAQ) in Hanoi, Vietnam. This pilot will enable continuous operation to optimize upgrade and recovery performance, generate larger volumes of concentrate for downstream hydrometallurgical testwork, and provide critical data for the company’s upcoming Scoping Study.

In parallel, hydrometallurgical programs are underway at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Minutech-AMML, exploring alternative leach routes to further refine the MREP chemistry. These efforts aim to finalize product specifications and optimize processing parameters, ensuring the product meets market and strategic partner requirements.

Strategic Importance of Jupiter’s Magnet Rare Earths

The Jupiter Project hosts Australia’s largest magnet rare earth element (REE) resource, with key elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium comprising about 23% of the total REO content. These magnet-REEs are critical for electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, data centers, renewable energy, and defense supply chains, positioning Critica as a potential cornerstone supplier in a Western-aligned rare earth supply chain.

Notably, the Jupiter deposit exhibits very low levels of uranium and thorium impurities, well below transport and handling thresholds, which enhances its development profile and regulatory appeal.

Pathway Forward and Market Implications

With beneficiation proven and pilot commissioning underway, Critica is advancing toward pilot-scale operations, Scoping Study completion, and product specification definition. The company plans to incorporate pilot and hydrometallurgical results into its Scoping Study in the first half of 2026, followed by a Pre-feasibility Study in the second half.

Critica’s CEO, Jacob Deysel, emphasized the company’s decisive move from exploration to development, highlighting ongoing engagement with prospective offtake and strategic partners. This progress aligns with growing global demand for secure, low-cost, and environmentally responsible rare earth supply chains.