Ioneer and Cat dealer announce services partnership for Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project
Ioneer Ltd and Empire Southwest, LLC, the Caterpillar dealer serving the service territory of Arizona, Nevada and parts of eastern California, have announced the signing of a Master Service Agreement for sales, services, goods, technology and equipment rental to support the development and operation of the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, USA.
The agreement identifies key initiatives to sustain successful mining operations and creates a formal partnership between the two companies.
Rhyolite Ridge, located in Esmeralda County, hosts the largest undeveloped lithium-boron ore reserve in the world outside of Turkey, according to Ioneer. This milestone follows Ioneer’s recent announcement which cut a key component of ore processing time in half while increasing annual lithium and boron chemical production by 30% and 15%, respectively, during the first 25 years of operations. At a production rate of 3.4 Mt/y, the company estimates it will achieve lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) production of around 20,400 t/y, plus some 70,700 t/y of boric acid. From year three onwards, it is also guiding for around 23,200 t/y of lithium hydroxide output.
Rhyolite Ridge is expected to be the first greenfield mining site in the United States to use automated haul trucks from the outset, leveraging Cat’s MineStar Command for hauling AHS on a fleet of Cat 785 haul trucks.
“Partnering with Empire gives Ioneer added support and expertise as we move into an important operational phase in driving US mining innovation, sustainability and the secure production of lithium and boron – two urgently needed US critical minerals,” Matt Weaver, Ioneer’s Senior Vice President of Engineering & Operations, said. “Rhyolite Ridge is a multi-generational deposit and we anticipate this being a multi-generational partnership.”
“We are pleased to partner with Ioneer on the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project, which represents a significant step forward for mining production in the United States,” Dan Harms, Vice President of Mining at Empire Southwest, said. “This partnership underscores Empire’s commitment to supporting innovative projects that drive progress, create jobs, and deliver long-term value to our industry and communities.”
Construction at Rhyolite Ridge is slated to begin in 2026 with commercial operations commencing in 2029.
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