CRITICAL METALS CORP NASDAQ-CRML Officially Approves & Commences Construction Start-Up in Greenland for Tanbreez Pilot Plant & Multi-Use Facilities
Rhea-AI Summary
Critical Metals Corp (NASDAQ: CRML) has approved and started construction of an Arctic-grade multi-use building in Qaqortoq, Greenland to support the Tanbreez rare earths project. The works are under a full turnkey contract with 60° North Greenland covering design, permitting, logistics, construction and commissioning.
The facility (~80m x 20m, 10m clear height) is divided into three sections with mezzanines for offices and is engineered for Arctic conditions. The pilot-plant section is scheduled to be ready for use on or before May 2026. The company also purchased a residential property in Qaqortoq for a local office.
Positive
- Pilot plant ready target set for May 2026
- Turnkey contract transfers design-to-commissioning responsibility to contractor
- Local office purchased in Qaqortoq to strengthen on-site presence
Negative
- Completion conditional on employer fulfilling contractual obligations, creating delay risk
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CRML gained 16.43%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +16.9% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -4.3% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 47 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $252M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $1.79B at that time. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 6.2x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CRML moved up 25.64% while key peers showed mixed, mostly single-digit moves (e.g., SLI +4.67%, NEXA +5.9%, UAMY -3.59%). Momentum scanner flagged only USAS, moving -4.9%, underscoring a CRML-specific move rather than a broad sector shift.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15 | Drilling results | Positive | -11.0% | Reported consistent Tanbreez mineralisation with notable TREO and HREO grades. |
| Dec 11 | Met test work | Positive | +4.1% | Confirmed metallurgical test work and secured proof-of-concept pilot plant. |
| Dec 09 | JV term sheet | Positive | +6.0% | Signed 50/50 JV term sheet with Romania for rare earth processing facility. |
| Nov 25 | Project update | Neutral | -1.1% | Provided Wolfsberg lithium update following court decision and EIA review change. |
| Nov 21 | Strategic acquisition | Positive | -1.4% | Closed US$20M all-share acquisition of ultra-high-purity copper powder stockpile. |
News flow around Tanbreez and strategic deals has produced mixed reactions: some positive technical/JV updates led to modest gains, while strong drilling and acquisition updates occasionally saw negative 24h price moves, indicating inconsistent alignment between positive news and price.
Over the last few months, CRML has focused on advancing Tanbreez and related strategic assets. On Nov 21, 2025, it completed a US$20M all-share acquisition of ultra-high-purity copper powder. A court update on the Wolfsberg lithium project followed on Nov 25, 2025. In early December, CRML executed a 50:50 Romania refinery JV term sheet and later confirmed metallurgical test work and pilot plant plans. On Dec 15, 2025, strong Tanbreez drilling results were reported. Today’s Greenland construction approval continues this progression from technical validation toward infrastructure build-out.
Regulatory & Risk Context
CRML has an active Form F-3 resale registration filed on 2025-10-20 for up to 18,030,303 ordinary shares held by a selling securityholder. This is a secondary registration, so CRML does not receive proceeds from resales and would receive cash only if PIPE warrants, with exercise prices of $7.00 or $0.0001, are exercised for cash. A related 424B3 prospectus was filed on 2025-11-10, indicating the shelf has been used once.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock surged +16.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with CRML’s move from technical studies toward tangible infrastructure. The Greenland turnkey build for the Tanbreez pilot-plant facility provides a concrete step beyond prior drilling and JV term sheets. However, past events showed both rallies and selloffs around positive news, and an active Form F-3 resale registration for 18,030,303 shares could influence future trading once fully effective and utilized.
Key Terms
turnkey contract technical
pilot-plant technical
load-bearing floor technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Highlights
- Construction Approved in Greenland: CRML has formally approved the start of construction for an Arctic-grade, multi-use storage, housing and pilot-plant facilities in Qaqortoq under a full turnkey contract, supporting advancement of its Tanbreez rare earths project.
- Turnkey Delivery with Clear Milestones: The design and build turnkey contract covers all engineering, permitting, logistics, construction, and commissioning, with the pilot plant section scheduled to be ready for use on or before May 2026.
- Strengthened Local Presence: CRML has also purchased a corporate housing property in Qaqortoq to serve as a local office, reinforcing long-term operational commitment and on-the-ground project execution in Greenland near the mine site.
NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp” or the “Company”), a leading critical minerals mining company, is pleased to announce that it has formally greenlit the commencement of construction for a multi-use storage and pilot-plant facility in Qaqortoq, Greenland, a key enabling infrastructure project for the Tanbreez rare earth and critical metals project. The works will be executed under a full turnkey (design-build) contract awarded to 60° North Greenland.
Tony Sage, Chief Executive Officer of Critical Metals Corp., commented:
“Formally approving and initiation of construction in Greenland is a major step forward for CRML and the Tanbreez project. This turnkey contract provides us with a clear, structured pathway to deliver critical pilot-plant infrastructure in a challenging Arctic environment. Establishing a permanent office in Qaqortoq further demonstrates our commitment to operating locally, responsibly, and efficiently as we advance Tanbreez toward development. We see this facility as a cornerstone asset that underpins our technical work programs and long-term strategic objectives.”
Contract Scope and Structure
The contract has been executed as a comprehensive turnkey agreement, under which the contractor assumes full responsibility for:
- Architectural and engineering design
- Structural, fire, electrical, and mechanical engineering
- Authority applications, approvals, and regulatory compliance
- Procurement of all materials and equipment
- Transportation and logistics to site
- Construction, installation, commissioning, and phased handover
Project Description
The project involves the design and construction of an Arctic-grade, insulated, multi-purpose industrial building located in Qaqortoq town, Greenland, with the following key specifications:
- Approximate dimensions: 80 metres x 20 metres
- Clear internal height of approximately 10 metres, plus roof structure
- Division into three functional sections
- Integrated mezzanine decks for offices and personnel facilities
- Designed to support pilot-plant operations, core handling, storage, and administration
- Engineered for Arctic climatic conditions, including snow loads, wind loads, and frost
Milestones and Timeline
Under the agreed phasing plan, the Pilot Plant Section of the facility is scheduled to be ready for use no later than May 2026, subject to the employer fulfilling its contractual obligations.
“Ready for use” is defined as:
- A weather-tight and insulated building envelope
- Completed load-bearing floor
- Full access for equipment delivery and installation
Phase 1 completion is targeted for May 2026.
Local Presence and Office Establishment
In parallel with the construction approval, CRML has completed the purchase of a residential property in Qaqortoq, which will be converted into a local office and operational base. This investment further strengthens CRML’s long-term presence in Greenland and supports close coordination with contractors, authorities, and the local community.
About Critical Metals Corp.
Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) is a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals, and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners. Its flagship Project, Tanbreez, is one of the world's largest, rare-earth deposits and is in Southern Greenland. The deposit is expected to have access to key transportation outlets as the area features year-round direct shipping access via deep water fjords that lead directly to the North Atlantic Ocean.
Another key asset is the Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Carinthia, 270 km south of Vienna, Austria. The Wolfsberg Lithium Project is the first fully permitted mine in Europe and is strategically located with access to established road and rail infrastructure and is expected to be the next major producer of key lithium products to support the European market. Wolfsberg is well positioned with offtake and downstream partners to become a unique and valuable asset in an expanding geostrategic critical metals portfolio.
With this strategic asset portfolio, Critical Metals Corp is positioned to become a reliable and sustainable supplier of critical minerals essential for defense applications, the clean energy transition, and next-generation technologies in the western world.
For more information, please visit https://www.criticalmetalscorp.com/.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements may include expectations of our business and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and do not guarantee performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this news release, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “designed to” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and expectations, forecasts and assumptions as of that date, involve several judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Critical Metals Corp.
Investor Relations: ir@criticalmetalscorp.com
Media: pr@criticalmetalscorp.com
FAQ
What did Critical Metals Corp (CRML) approve in Greenland on January 7, 2026?
When will the CRML Tanbreez pilot-plant section be ready for use?
Who is the contractor for CRML's Greenland turnkey build?
What are the key specifications of the CRML Qaqortoq facility?
How does CRML plan to support local operations in Greenland?
