Viridis appoints Sedgman and Blossom for Brazil rare earths build

Viridis Mining and Minerals has appointed Sedgman and Blossom Consultoria e Assessoria S.A as preferred engineering, procurement, and construction management partners for its Colossus project in Brazil. This move follows a global tender process and is designed to de-risk the construction schedule ahead of a targeted first production date in 2028.

The company has approved up to US$3 million in immediate expenditure to launch a bridging phase of works. This initial investment will cover detailed engineering, execution planning, and the management of long-lead equipment packages already ordered, allowing the project to maintain momentum while awaiting final investment decisions.

Strategic Partnerships Drive Execution

Sedgman, an international project house, will collaborate with Blossom, a local engineering provider with deep expertise in Minas Gerais. This partnership combines global execution capability with on-the-ground knowledge, a critical factor for navigating the regulatory and logistical landscape of the Brazilian state. The collaboration aims to ensure a rapid transition into full-scale execution once the final investment decision is made, which is targeted for the third quarter of 2026.

This appointment is part of a broader sequence of milestones that include the completion of a definitive feasibility study and the securing of equity funding. It also follows the award of a 138-kilovolt grid connection contract and the placement of the project’s first major equipment order, collectively solidifying the development plan.

Resource Base Supports Long-Term Viability

The Colossus project is underpinned by a JORC-compliant global resource of 473 million tonnes grading 2,505 parts per million total rare earth oxides. A specific upgrade of lower-grade inferred material has resulted in a measured and indicated resource of 305 million tonnes grading 2,723 ppm TREO, with a magnet rare earth oxide grade of 659 ppm.

Within this envelope, a tight infill grid has identified a starter zone of 31 million tonnes grading 2,858 ppm TREO and 758 ppm MREO. Viridis previously announced a probable ore reserve of 200.6 million tonnes grading 2,640 ppm TREO and 740 ppm MREO, representing a 61 percent conversion rate from resource to reserve.

Feasibility Study Confirms Operational Metrics

The definitive feasibility study released last month models a 25-year mine life based on the reserve base. Operational metrics were refined to 200.1 million tonnes grading 2,894 ppm TREO and 715 ppm MREO, reflecting updated mine sequencing and engineering filters. This target includes 27.4 million tonnes of proved ore reserves and 172.7 million tonnes of probable ore reserves.

The production target relies entirely on declared ore reserves, with no reliance on converting additional mineral resources. This ensures the project’s economic viability does not depend on future resource upgrades. According to GN auto stocks materials, this positions Viridis as a significant supplier of heavy rare earths, particularly given the scarcity of large-scale non-Chinese sources.