Mineral Resource Estimate doubles contained scandium metal at Sunrise Energy Metals' Australian rare earths deposit

Rhea-AI Summary

Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL) announced a significant update to its Mineral Resource Estimate at the Syerston Scandium Project in NSW, Australia. The company reported a 98% increase in contained scandium metal to 19,007 tonnes at an average grade of 414 g/t using a 300 g/t cut-off. The high-grade resource saw a 161% increase to 1,155 tonnes at 665 g/t using a 600 g/t cut-off.

The update comes amid tightening scandium supply following China's export licensing restrictions implemented in April 2025. The company's Feasibility Study is scheduled for completion in late September 2025, supporting ongoing financing and offtake discussions. Over 90% of the global resource and 99% of the high-grade resource are now in Measured and Indicated categories.

Positive

• 98% increase in global contained scandium resource to 19,007 tonnes
• 161% increase in high-grade scandium resource to 1,155 tonnes
• Over 90% of global resource and 99% of high-grade resource now in Measured and Indicated categories
• Strategic timing with tightening scandium supply and rising prices due to China's export restrictions
• Feasibility Study completion expected by late September 2025

Negative

• Project still requires financing to move forward
• Development timeline and costs not yet disclosed

Upward revision to Estimate comes amidst reported supply shortages of rare earth elements

Feasibility Study to be completed later this month

Highlights:

• Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource materially increases following a step out drilling campaign at the Syerston Scandium Project, which now comprises: 
  • a global resource of 19,007 tonnes of contained scandium  (at a 300 g/t Sc cut-off) at an average grade of 414 g/t (a 98% increase in contained metal, with over 90% of the global resource now in Measured and Indicated categories); and
  • a high-grade resource of 1,155 tonnes of contained scandium (at a 600 g/t Sc cut-off) at an average grade of 665 g/t (a 161% increase in contained metal, with over 99% of the high-grade resource now in Measured and Indicated categories).
• Recent negotiations with scandium traders in North America indicate a significant tightening of scandium supply, and a marked increase in scandium prices since the imposition of China's export licensing restrictions on the metal in April 2025.
• The Syerston Feasibility Study is due for completion in late September and will support the Company's on-going discussions regarding financing and offtake.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunrise Energy Metals Limited ("Sunrise" or the "Company") (ASX:SRL; OTC:SREMF) Co-Chairman Robert Friedland, and Chief Executive Officer Sam Riggall, announce today an update to the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Syerston Scandium Project in NSW, Australia. 

Sunrise Energy Metals CEO, Sam Riggall, commented: "Global scandium supply remains tight since China's export controls were imposed in April 2025, positioning Syerston as a strategically important source for future scandium supply.  Our focus now turns to completing the Feasibility Study and evaluating various financing options for the Project."

Mr Friedland also commented: "The Syerston Scandium Project will bolster the supply of one of the most important rare earth metals at a time when supply disruptions are becoming the norm. The world we knew - built on globalized and integrated supply chains for strategic metals - is past, perhaps forever. Geopolitical competition over key technologies using these metals requires a complete rebuilding of the world's metal supply chains.  This is not just an industrial imperative.  It is an imperative that strives for a safer and more balanced approach to world affairs, one built on diversified and reliable supply chains stretching back to the mines that have, for millennia, produced the metals that are catalysts for human progress."

See more here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:7969996a-9e38-48fe-92ca-285ea97c2eea?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover

About Sunrise Energy Metals

We aim to be a world-leading supplier of refined metals that are critical to the development of advanced and emerging technologies. We focus on metals that sit at the heart of new and disruptive innovation, particularly in energy, defence, transport and computing markets.

Comprising one of the world's largest undeveloped resources of strategic metals on the east coast of Australia, the Syerston Scandium Project, and the Sunrise Nickel-Cobalt Project, will redefine supply chain security, reliability and sustainability for decades to come.

For more information, visit https://sunriseem.com/ or email Ross Larsen, Head of Editorial, 33 Communications and the team at: sunriseem@thirtythreecomms.com

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SOURCE Sunrise Energy Metals Limited

FAQ

What is the new scandium resource estimate for Sunrise Energy Metals' Syerston Project?

The global resource increased 98% to 19,007 tonnes of contained scandium at 414 g/t grade (300 g/t cut-off), with a high-grade resource of 1,155 tonnes at 665 g/t grade (600 g/t cut-off).

How has China's export policy affected the scandium market in 2025?

China's export licensing restrictions imposed in April 2025 have led to a significant tightening of scandium supply and a marked increase in scandium prices globally.

What percentage of SRL's scandium resource is in the Measured and Indicated categories?

Over 90% of the global resource and 99% of the high-grade resource are now in Measured and Indicated categories, indicating high confidence in the resource estimate.

When will Sunrise Energy Metals complete the Syerston Project Feasibility Study?

The Feasibility Study is scheduled for completion in late September 2025, which will support ongoing financing and offtake discussions.

What is the strategic importance of the Syerston Scandium Project?

The project represents a strategically important source of future scandium supply, particularly significant given the current global supply constraints and China's export restrictions.