Vital pipework relocation is underway at the Saltend site for rare earth specialist Pensana, as it prepares for the main works to start early in the New Year.
A contractor working on behalf of Yorkshire Water is moving infrastructure to the western edge of the site boundary, where a £150 million separation plant will serve magnet metal-reliant industries, including offshore wind and electric vehicles.
Earthworks contracts are also set to be awarded imminently, with principal contractor Wood now on-site, and Pensana’s newly appointed owner’s team construction manager, Mark O’Rourke alongside.
Read more: Considerable progress for Pensana heralded as operational highlights reflected on at year-end
In a statement to the City, with Pensana London Stock Exchange-listed, Tim George chief executive, said: "Following our previous update in October we are extremely pleased with the progress at both sites. Our early construction management team has continued to grow with the addition of Mark O'Rourke appointed as a construction manager in Saltend.
“The enabling works appointed last month are on-site delivering to project schedule and making good progress. These critical developments will allow us to move forward quickly in delivering independent and sustainable world-class rare earth facilities at both our operations."
Saltend now has 24/7 site security following the installation of the construction offices, security and welfare cabins and the development of the site access locations.
At Longonjo, Angola, where mining operations will extract the feed stocks for the Humber Bank project, the civils contractor is now on site, with the main construction camp build underway with off-site production in South Africa. It is set to be delivered in January.
Electrical infrastructure work is also beginning, while meetings have been held with the Port of Lobito to discuss arrangements for the main construction requirements.
Chairman Paul Atherley has set out closure of financing for the coming month, with 125 jobs to be created in East Yorkshire, with recruitment underway.
It is anticipated the site will enter full production in 2024.
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