BRE Secures Monte Alto Trial Mining Licence
Rhea-AI Summary
Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX:BRE, OTCQX:BRELY) has secured a Trial Mining Licence from Brazil’s ANM for the Monte Alto project in Bahia, authorising extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum of product. Trial mining will supply bulk shipments for offtakes and metallurgical testing and feed BRE’s Camaçari pilot plant, on track to commence operations in Q3 2026. BRE expects to submit an Economic Development Plan to ANM in Q2 2026, the next federal step toward a full mining concession. The licence supports BRE’s low-impact, quarry-scale, dry-processing development model.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- Trial Mining Licence granted by ANM for Monte Alto
- 2,000 tonnes per annum authorised extraction capacity
- Camaçari pilot plant remains on schedule to start in Q3 2026
- Enables bulk shipments for customer offtakes and metallurgical testing
Negative
- Full mining concession still subject to ANM approval after Economic Development Plan submission
- 2,000 tpa cap limits near-term production volume and commercial scale
News Market Reaction – BRELY
On the day this news was published, BRELY gained 6.07%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
BRELY gained 0.44% while peers showed mixed moves: GLGDF up 6.15%, PMETF up 4.14%, MGMNF down 7.23%, GOTRF down 0.38%, and REEMF flat. This mix suggests a stock-specific reaction rather than a unified sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18 | Drilling results | Positive | +4.6% | Ultra-high-grade Monte Alto drilling results and extended strike length. |
| Feb 11 | Metallurgy update | Positive | +6.5% | Very high rare earth recoveries at 150°C validating low-temperature flowsheet. |
| Feb 04 | Ore sorting results | Positive | +5.1% | Exceptional Monte Alto ore sorting with >2x grade upgrade and high recoveries. |
| Jan 29 | Quarterly report | Positive | -5.1% | Quarterly update highlighting Amargosa scoping study, offtake deal and cash. |
| Dec 15 | Scoping study | Positive | -0.1% | Amargosa Bauxite-Gallium scoping study outlining 5 Mtpa DSB mine concept. |
Positive Monte Alto technical and metallurgical updates have previously aligned with price gains, while broader corporate and Amargosa-focused updates have seen weaker or negative reactions.
Over the past few months, Brazilian Rare Earths has consistently advanced its Bahia assets. Monte Alto has delivered ultra-high-grade drilling and strong ore sorting results, while metallurgical optimisation achieved very high recoveries at CDTN. Separately, the Amargosa bauxite-gallium project reported a large JORC resource and a scoping study indicating robust economics, alongside a proposed de‑merger and a 10‑year heavy rare earth offtake. Today’s trial mining licence at Monte Alto fits into this staged de-risking and development sequence for the Brazil-focused portfolio.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +6.1% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the series of value-adding updates around Monte Alto, including ultra-high-grade drilling and successful metallurgy. The new Trial Mining Licence enabling up to 2,000 tonnes per annum supports bulk sampling and pilot plant feed ahead of the planned Q3 2026 start. Investors would still need to weigh execution risk, permitting timelines and the history of mixed reactions to broader corporate updates.
Key Terms
trial mining licence regulatory
national mining agency regulatory
tailings dams technical
ore sorting technical
dry processing flowsheet technical
pilot plant technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
SYDNEY, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: BRE) (OTCQX: BRELY / BRETF) is pleased to announce that it has secured a Trial Mining Licence from Brazil’s ANM, for the Monte Alto rare earths and critical minerals project in Bahia, Brazil.
- BRE has been granted a Trial Mining Licence by Brazil’s National Mining Agency (ANM) for the ultra-high grade Monte Alto rare earth and critical minerals project in Bahia, Brazil
- The approval is an important regulatory milestone that materially advances Monte Alto toward commercial-scale mining approvals
- The licence authorises extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum of product from the Monte Alto deposit, enabling BRE to produce bulk shipments for potential customer offtakes and metallurgical testing at its Camaçari pilot plant
- Trial mining at Monte Alto will support commissioning and operation of BRE’s fully permitted pilot plant at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, which remains on schedule to commence operations in Q3 2026
- BRE expects to submit an Economic Development Plan to ANM in Q2 2026, representing the next key federal permitting milestone toward a full mining concession for commercial operations
- The licence is an important step towards BRE’s low-impact, quarry-scale development at Monte Alto, based on dry processing, high-yield ore sorting, low water consumption, no tailings dams and a small footprint
The grant of the Trial Mining Licence is a significant milestone in the advancement of Monte Alto from exploration success toward staged project development. The approval reflects progress across BRE’s permitting workstreams and was supported by a low-impact development strategy for Monte Alto using a small-footprint, capital-efficient operating model designed to align with environmental and regulatory standards.
The licence authorises extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum of product from Monte Alto. This will allow BRE to produce representative bulk shipments for potential customers and strategic partners, supporting downstream test work and commercial engagements.
Importantly, the approval supports BRE’s province-scale, hub-and-spoke, integrated ore-to-oxides strategy. Product will supply high-grade feedstock for BRE’s fully permitted pilot plant at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, which is currently under construction and scheduled to commence operations in Q3 2026.
BRE’s development strategy at Monte Alto is designed to be low-impact and capital-efficient, centred on a quarry-scale operation, supported by:
- Ultra high grades: Supports low production volumes from a compact operating footprint, yet delivers high-grade heavy rare earths, uranium and critical mineral rich feedstocks
- High-yield ore sorting: Reduces capital intensity and delivers exceptionally high-yields of +
95% - Dry processing flowsheet: Materially reduces water usage and eliminates the need for conventional tailings dams
- High system process recoveries: Highly efficient end-to-end processing, with limited process losses, and leading recoveries
Taken together, Monte Alto’s ultra-high-grade mineralisation allows BRE to progress a quarry-scale, dry-processing operation with a smaller footprint, lower development complexity and an efficient permitting pathway compared to many large-scale mining projects.
BRE’s next federal permitting milestone is the submission of an Economic Development Plan to ANM in Q2 2026. Subject to regulatory assessment and approval, this is expected to represent the final key step in the ANM process toward the grant of a full mining concession for commercial-scale operations.
BRE Managing Director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, commented:
“Securing the Trial Mining Licence is a significant milestone for Monte Alto and a major step forward in BRE’s integrated ore-to-oxides development pathway in Brazil.
“This approval reflects the strength of our permitting work, the quality of our engagement with local communities and government stakeholders, and the advantages of Monte Alto’s deliberately low-impact development model. With ultra-high-grade mineralisation, dry processing and a quarry-scale operating model, Monte Alto has been designed from the outset to support a staged, capital-efficient path through permitting and development.
“Just as importantly, trial mining can now supply high-grade material for customer evaluation and for our fully permitted pilot plant at Camaçari, linking upstream production with downstream processing capability in Brazil. That integrated model is central to our strategy to rebuild a leading Brazilian rare earths and critical minerals supply chain.
“Together with our existing export approvals, this licence materially advances commercial engagement, reduces development risk and brings Monte Alto closer to staged commercial operations.”
A link to the full release can be found here.
Contacts
Bernardo Da Veiga, Managing Director and CEO
investors@brazilianrareearths.com
www.brazilianrareearths.com
