Leading Edge Materials Corp. develops a portfolio of critical raw material projects in the European Union. The company’s project base includes the 100% owned Woxna Graphite mine in Sweden, the 100% owned Norra Kärr Heavy Rare Earth Elements project in Sweden, and the 51% owned Bihor Sud Nickel Cobalt exploration alliance in Romania.
Company updates commonly cover exploration results and technical reports for Bihor Sud, permitting and processing work related to Norra Kärr, funding needs for project development, and governance matters such as annual meeting results, auditor appointments, stock option plans, and director-related capital activity. The company trades on the OTCQB under LEMIF and is also listed on the TSXV and Nasdaq First North Stockholm.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. (LEMIF) has announced its endorsement of the European Raw Materials Alliance's (ERMA) report titled Rare Earth Magnets and Motors: A European Call for Action, which aims to enhance the European supply chain of rare earth materials. The report delineates 6 strategic action areas, including identifying primary mining sources, exploring regulatory measures to incentivize eco-friendly mining, and establishing a financing platform targeting €150-200 million annually. CEO Filip Kozlowski expressed optimism about the implications for the Norra Karr Heavy Rare Earth project, aiming to secure sustainable raw material sourcing in Europe.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. (LEMIF) announced its Q3 results for the period ending July 31, 2021, reporting a net loss of $1,077,588 compared to a profit of $1,090,072 in Q2. The decrease in profit is attributed to a prior gain on the sale of the Bergby Project. The company continues its focus on its Woxna Graphite and Norra Karr REE projects, with positive preliminary assessments indicating significant economic potential. However, the mining lease for Norra Karr was rejected, and the company is actively appealing this decision.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. (LEMIF) announced the filing of its preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the Norra Karr rare earth element project, dated August 19, 2021. The PEA reveals a substantial increase in resource utilization, proposing recovery of over 50% of mined material compared to under 1% in 2015. Key financial highlights include a net present value (NPV) of $1,026M, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 30.8%, and accumulated revenues of $9,962M over 26 years. The new design reduces environmental impact and operational costs, potentially decreasing water usage by 51%.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. has filed a technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report – Woxna Graphite," effective June 9, 2021, for its Woxna Graphite project. The report indicates strong potential for a sustainable operation producing battery-grade graphite with an average annual EBITDA of $49 million and a pre-tax IRR of 42.9%. Financial highlights include a pre-tax NPV of $317 million and total project revenues of $1.425 billion. Although the PEA shows promising results, it is preliminary and includes inferred mineral resources, which carry uncertainty regarding actual economic viability.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Norra Karr Rare Earth Elements (REE) project in Sweden. The PEA reveals a significant increase in resource utilization, planning to sell over 50% of mined material as products, compared to less than 1% in the previous 2015 PFS. The new design minimizes environmental impact by removing chemical processing from the site, resulting in an 80% reduction in land usage. Financial projections include a pre-tax NPV of $1.026 billion, a 30.8% IRR, and potential revenues of nearly $10 billion over 26 years.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. announces a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Norra Karr rare earth elements (REE) project in Sweden. The PEA, prepared by SRK (UK) Ltd., suggests significant improvements over the 2015 pre-feasibility study, with a projected net present value (NPV) of $1.03 billion and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 30.8%. The report emphasizes enhanced sustainability, as it proposes no chemical processing on-site, significantly reducing land use and water requirements. The project aims to support Europe's demand for rare earths, especially for permanent magnets.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. (LEMIF) reported a net profit of $1,090,072 for Q2 2021, a significant improvement from a net loss of $668,278 in Q1 2021. This profit was mainly driven by a gain of $1,472,255 from the sale of Bergby Lithium AB. The Company also held its Annual General Meeting, approving the re-election of directors and the appointment of auditors. However, the Mining Inspectorate of Sweden rejected the mining lease for the Norra Karr project, prompting an appeal. The Woxna graphite project shows promising preliminary economic results with a 42.9% pre-tax IRR and a potential 90% lower carbon footprint compared to Chinese suppliers.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. has announced preliminary results from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for its Woxna Graphite anode project. The assessment indicates that producing 1 tonne of natural graphite anode material from Woxna is associated with an estimated carbon footprint of 1.8 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, significantly lower (85%-90%) than the typical Chinese alternatives. This lower impact is attributed to the use of hydropower for energy needs. The final LCA results will undergo external review. The company aims to minimize its carbon footprint further by exploring climate-neutral gas alternatives.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. announced on June 17, 2021, that it has submitted a full appeal to the Swedish Government against the rejection of its mining lease application for the Norra Karr REE project. The rejection was based on the absence of a Natura 2000 permit. The company aims to cancel this rejection and proceed with the evaluation of the application as the Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden considers the permit's necessity. Furthermore, recent parliamentary support suggests a potential legislative change regarding the permit requirements.
Leading Edge Materials Corp. announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Woxna Graphite project in Sweden. The PEA indicates a viable operation for producing battery-grade graphite anode material. Key financial highlights include a pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of $317 million, a pre-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 42.9%, and average annual EBITDA of $49 million. The project, utilizing existing infrastructure and low-cost hydropower, aims to reduce reliance on Chinese imports and improve sustainability.