Wedoany.com Report-May 25, Power Minerals, an Australian company, has entered a strategic partnership with Brazilian mining company EDEM to advance the Santa Anna niobium carbonatite project in Goiás State, Brazil. The collaboration follows a binding letter of intent signed earlier this month, granting Power Minerals an exclusive option to acquire the project, discovered by EDEM in 2021.

Power Minerals will focus on exploring and developing the Santa Anna project’s critical minerals, while EDEM will concentrate on the project’s phosphate potential.

Under the agreement, Power Minerals will focus on exploring and developing critical minerals at Santa Anna, while EDEM will concentrate on its phosphate potential. The partnership also opens opportunities for further collaboration within EDEM’s project portfolio. Mena Habib, Power Minerals’ managing director, stated: “This strategic partnership offers strong benefits to Power and EDEM. The chance to secure a project opportunity such as Santa Anna is rare, and being able to tap into the expertise, knowledge and local network of EDEM would certainly help us accelerate work on the project.”

EDEM will provide technical support and an auger drill rig at reduced costs for Power Minerals’ upcoming due diligence drilling campaign, enhancing efficiency. Habib added: “EDEM has been looking for a partner to work with on this project and can provide Power with support that would vastly increase our ability to move Santa Anna forward and deliver value to our shareholders.” The project features a comprehensive drilling database and shows promise for rare earth elements (REEs) and phosphate, with significant REE mineralization identified in initial assessments.

Santa Anna includes extensive undrilled areas, offering substantial exploration potential. Exploration permits are secured, and Power Minerals plans to conduct at least 2,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling to establish an exploration target compliant with the 2012 JORC Code. The company recently raised $1.3 million (A$2.02 million) to fund exploration for niobium, gallium, and REEs. If initial drilling and acquisition are successful, Power Minerals aims to define a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate.

The partnership builds on Power Minerals’ recent activities in Brazil, including the acquisition of the Lítio niobium project in August 2024 after completing legal due diligence. This collaboration strengthens Power Minerals’ position in South America’s clean energy metals sector, leveraging EDEM’s local expertise to advance sustainable mineral exploration.

Power Minerals and Brazilian company EDEM have partnered to advance the Santa Anna niobium carbonatite project in Goiás State, Brazil, following a binding letter of intent signed this month. EDEM, the project vendor since its 2021 discovery, will focus on phosphate potential, while Power Minerals explores critical minerals. Mena Habib, Power Minerals’ managing director, said: “This strategic partnership offers strong benefits to Power and EDEM. The chance to secure a project opportunity such as Santa Anna is rare.” EDEM provides technical support and cost-effective drilling equipment. Habib added: “EDEM has been looking for a partner to work with on this project and can provide Power with support that would vastly increase our ability to move Santa Anna forward.” The project, with permits secured, plans 2,000 meters of drilling to define a JORC-compliant exploration target, supported by a $1.3 million placement.