阿瓦隆宣布与法国索尔维公司达成稀土分离“来料加工”协议

         中国稀土在线编译 转载请注明出处

       2014年3月3日， 阿瓦隆稀有金属公司宣布，该公司已经与索尔维公司签订协议，由法国索尔维公司将阿瓦隆的稀土精矿分离成高纯的稀土氧化物，从阿瓦隆将原料运到到索尔维集团位于法国拉罗谢尔（“来料加工协议“）分离厂开始计算，预计期限为十年。此外，即日起，索尔维将对阿瓦隆公司的湿法处理厂的的进一步设计优化、工程和调试进行技术支持 

       阿瓦隆将会把含量为98.5％稀土氧化物运送到索维尔公司在法国拉罗谢尔的的分离厂，而索尔维公司返还镨（Pr)，钕（Nd），铕（Eu），钆（Gd），铽（Tb），镝（Dy），镥（Lu）和钇（Y）的高纯氧化物，该来料加工协议还规定索尔维公司可以从阿瓦隆公司优先购买这些稀土高纯氧化物。索维尔公司放弃购买的所有稀土产品将阿瓦隆公司进行销售，并直接从拉罗谢尔工厂进行交付。

       阿瓦隆的总裁兼首席执行官说：“我们非常高兴能与象索尔维这样经验丰富的稀土精炼成为战略合作伙伴，来料加工协议大大降低了调试和运行Nechalacho项目的一个分离厂的技术风险以及与相关的建筑成本，降低了整个项目的风险，更具有投资的吸引力。此外，还降低了潜在的最初产品交付延迟的风险，我们的客户，他们知道他们可以信赖索尔维生产出他们需要的交货及时的质量可靠的产品。我们与索尔维公司在环境保护和社会责任方面也达成了共识，这进一步加强了我们成为一个可持续发展的运营商的目标”

       阿瓦隆稀有金属公司是一家矿产开发公司，专注于加拿大稀有金属矿床开发。

     阿瓦隆稀有金属公司(TSX and NYSE AMEX: AVL)位于加拿大，是一个以开发稀有金属矿产资源为主的公司。其旗舰项目是位于西北地区托尔湖的尼科拉科项目，拥有100％的所有权且是全球大型未开发稀土矿之一，可以开发出更有价值的“重”稀土元素。该项目确定资源量为 1088 万吨，品位为 1.67%，其中重稀土约占 20%。

附原文：

       Avalon Enters into Rare Earth Refining Agreement and Strategic Partnership
Avalon Enters into Rare Earth Refining Agreement and Strategic Partnership
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 3, 2014) - Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX:AVL)(NYSE MKT:AVL) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Solvay, to have Solvay process Avalon's rare earth concentrate into pure rare earth oxides for an anticipated period of 10 years from the start of deliveries to Solvay's rare earth separation and refining plant located in La Rochelle, France (the "Tolling Agreement"). In addition, effective immediately, Solvay will provide Avalon with technical support for the further design optimization, engineering and commissioning of Avalon's hydrometallurgical processing plant.

   Avalon will ship a concentrate to La Rochelle containing 98.5% Rare Earth Oxide ("REO") and Solvay will return separated oxides of praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), lutetium (Lu) and yttrium (Y) ranging in purity from 99.5% to 99.99%. The Tolling Agreement also provides Solvay with the opportunity to purchase selected REO from Avalon. All rare earth products not purchased by Solvay will be sold by Avalon and delivered directly from the La Rochelle plant.
Don Bubar, Avalon's President and CEO, said, "We are extremely pleased to have a highly experienced rare earth refiner like Solvay as a strategic partner. This Tolling Agreement greatly reduces the technical risk and costs associated with building, commissioning and operating a dedicated REE Refinery for the Nechalacho Project, making the whole project a less risky and more attractive investment opportunity. In addition, this reduces the potential for delays in initial product deliveries as perceived by our customers, who know they can rely on Solvay to produce the quality they require in a timely, proven, and reliable way. Solvay and Avalon also share similar values for environmental and social responsibility, which furthers our goal of becoming a sustainable operator."

       Avalon is continuing its feasibility study optimization work and will now integrate the Solvay Tolling Agreement into the project development model. The decision to use Solvay's facilities to refine the Company's mixed rare earth concentrate makes the property optioned in Geismar, Louisiana for a Refinery, potentially available as an alternative location for the hydrometallurgical facility, originally contemplated for Pine Point, NWT.

      Avalon's next steps are primarily focused on producing an updated Technical Report incorporating the results of all the recent optimization work. Other goals for 2014 include completing land use permit applications, carrying out additional pilot plant trials of the new hydrometallurgical plant flowsheet needed to finalize detailed plant designs and engineering, securing commitments on off-take and arranging project financing. Commencing December 31, 2014, Solvay will have certain termination rights until project financing is achieved.

 

   For more information about Solvay, please visit www.solvay.com.
About Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
    Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral development company focused on rare metal deposits in Canada. Its 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT is exceptional in its large size and enrichment in the scarce 'heavy' rare earth elements, key to enabling advances in clean technology and other growing high-tech applications. With a positive feasibility study and environmental assessment completed, the Nechalacho Project remains the most advanced potential large new source of heavy rare earths in the world outside of China, currently the source of most of the world's supply. Avalon is adequately funded, has no debt and its work programs are progressing. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

      This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that Solvay will provide Avalon with technical support, Avalon will ship a concentrate from Geismar to La Rochelle, Solvay will return separated oxides, and products not purchased by Solvay will be sold by Avalon. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market demand for Avalon's securities, as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.