EPCM Partner Confirmed for Brazil's Colossus Rare Earth Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 10, Viridis Mining and Minerals announced that it has selected a team composed of Sedgman and Brazilian engineering company Blossom Consult as the preferred EPCM partner for the Colossus rare earth project. The selection followed a competitive tender process involving 11 international and Brazilian engineering groups. EPCM mobilization has commenced, and Viridis has simultaneously approved up to US$3 million for Bridging Phase engineering work ahead of the Final Investment Decision (FID).

This phase of work will advance detailed engineering design to design freeze, complete the overall layout of the processing plant and the project execution plan, manage the long-lead equipment packages already awarded, prepare subsequent procurement packages, and simultaneously advance construction planning, site preparation, and key permitting matters. The full EPCM contract remains subject to completion of final contract conditions and is contingent upon FID; the current US$3 million expenditure covers only the pre-FID engineering phase.

Prior to formal selection, Sedgman and Blossom had already completed an independent engineering review of Colossus, conducting a "Cold Eyes Review" of the post-DFS design scheme and identifying capital expenditure optimization opportunities. The two parties have been collaborating for over a year, with Sedgman primarily providing global project execution and procurement capabilities, and Blossom undertaking local engineering implementation and project support in Brazil.

The Colossus project completed its Final Feasibility Study (DFS) in August, planning a 5 million tonnes per annum ion-adsorption clay rare earth mining and processing project. Viridis previously awarded a 138 kV grid connection contract and, on September 7, awarded its first major process equipment order to Dewater Filter Press for the procurement of a tailings filter press system. The equipment manufacturing lead time is approximately 52–56 weeks, making it a critical-path long-lead equipment item for the project.

The project engineering schedule shows a 138 kV grid connection capacity of 27 MW, with power delivery planned for completion in December 2027; the first batch of long-lead equipment procurement is concentrated in the third quarter of 2026, and project financial close is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Viridis plans to achieve first rare earth product production in the second half of 2028 and reach steady-state production in October 2028.

Colossus is located in the Poços de Caldas alkaline complex region of Minas Gerais state. The project has obtained a preliminary environmental license, and the installation license application was submitted in May 2026. Its latest mineral resource estimate includes measured and indicated resources of 305 million tonnes, and the project mineralization contains rare earth elements including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.