Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE) shares are on the move on Thursday.
In morning trade, the ASX rare earths stock is up 17% to $4.34.
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What's going on with this ASX rare earths stock today?
Investors have been buying the company's shares today after it announced the results of the scoping study for its 100%-owned Amargosa Bauxite-Gallium Project in Brazil.
Brazilian Rare Earths, which counts Gina Rinehart as a major shareholder, notes that the study was led by SLR Consulting, with support from other industry specialists. This includes MIPTEC Engenharia & Consultoria, which is a leading Brazilian engineering firm focused on project design and cost estimation for bulk-commodity projects. CM Group, which is an independent bauxite market consultant, also supported the study.
According to the release, the scoping study confirms that the Amargosa Project has the potential to be a large-scale, capital-efficient, direct-ship bauxite (DSB) project with strong economic returns.
Benchmarking by CM Group positions Amargosa as a first quartile project on the global seaborne bauxite cost curve.
Scoping study results
It highlights that the current development pathway is a ~5 million tonne per annum truck-and-shovel DSB operation that leverages existing road infrastructure and an established export port to deliver high-quality, low-silica bauxite into the global seaborne market.
The ASX rare earths stock advised that the operation is forecast to generate robust cashflow and strong earnings.
The study estimates that it will generate average EBITDA of US$102 million per annum. Whereas free cash flow (FCF) of US$84 million per annum is expected over a 17-year life. This is based on a spot bauxite price of US$71 per tonne.
This is expected to lead to strong economic returns. The project is forecast to have an after-tax net present value (8%) of US$630 million and a payback of 1.2 years.
Commenting on the study results, the ASX rare earths stock's managing director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, said:
The Scoping Study supports Amargosa's potential as a leading, capital-efficient and high-quality DSB project: simple to execute, scalable and highly advantaged by direct access to established road and port infrastructure. Amargosa's location in Bahia provides a foundation for development, with an experienced mining workforce, favourable taxes and royalty settings, mature regulation and clear government support. Importantly, the Study also evaluates the Southern FIOL rail option that underpinned prior feasibility studies.
We see FIOL as a valuable longer-term expansion pathway at higher bauxite prices, but the optimal starting point is our low-capex 5 Mtpa DSB base case, which materially reduces development risk and capital by deferring rail, major infrastructure and beneficiation requirements. These results highlight the potential for strong margins and durable free cash flow generation from a high-quality bauxite product in a tightening seaborne market, subject to further studies, approvals and financing.
The company's leader also confirmed that the plan is still to demerge this asset into a separate listing. He adds:
In line with our strategy, we are targeting a 2026 de-merger of Amargosa via an in-specie distribution into a new ASX-listed company, while BRE continues to focus on building value across our exceptional rare earth and critical minerals portfolio.
