The backers of a rare earths mining project in the arid plains of western South Africa say they have the answer to challenging China’s dominance in global supply chains – a by-product that is also crucial to the clean energy transition.
Producing rare earths used to make permanent magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles (EVs) can be complex and is often unviable due to the costs, helping to explain the European Union’s decision to put the Zandkopsdrift project on its list of “strategic” mining ventures to reduce its dependence on China.
“We’re expected to be … the lowest-cost producer of magnet rare earths outside China,” Philip Kenny, chair of project owner Frontier Rare Earths, said in a media statement in February.
Zandkopsdrift aims to produce 4,000 metric tons of magnet rare earths per year by 2030 – equal to 17% of the EU’s projected needs. Last month, the miner signed an agreement with French company Carester SAS, which will separate and process the mine’s rare earths at a large-scale facility being built in France.
Central to the company’s business plan for Zandkopsdrift’s rare earths output is a by-product – battery-grade manganese, which the project aims to produce more cheaply than anywhere else in the world.
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Manganese is increasingly used in the cathodes of lithium-ion EV batteries. Manganese-rich lithium-ion batteries significantly reduce the need for other minerals such as nickel and cobalt, which have been associated with social and environmental impacts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia. However, nearly all of the manganese sulphate used in batteries is currently produced by China.
“We will be the lowest (battery-grade manganese) cost producer in the world. We will have a production cost approximately 20% of China’s,” James Kenny, the company’s CEO, told an EU minerals conference in Brussels last year.
‘Untested’ processing route
While the model is promising, combining rare earth extraction with battery-grade manganese production at a commercial scale is an untested processing route, said Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, an energy consultant and analyst based in Pretoria.
“The production costs claimed are certainly eye-catching and, if verified, would be disruptive,” said Montmasson-Clair, who specialises in issues related to the transition to a green economy.
“However, there is a significant gap between prefeasibility projections and operational reality,” he said, noting that commercial production of rare earths is particularly sensitive to rates of mineral extraction and the costs of chemicals involved in the process.
The project – which will produce the rare earth compounds neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium oxide – remains at the feasibility stage, with a Definitive Feasibility Study due for completion in mid-2027.
“We won’t know the true cost curve until the definitive feasibility study is complete and, ultimately, until the plant is running,” Montmasson-Clair added.
Frontier Rare Earths did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Troubled mining legacy
The project fits in with South Africa’s aim to become a key supplier of critical minerals as countries scramble to secure up supplies of rare earths – a group of 17 elements that are needed to produce a diverse range of goods, including technologies for the clean energy transition.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a partnership on critical minerals with the EU in November, and the Industrial Development Corp (IDC), a state development finance institution, has invested $20 million in Zandkopsdrift.
Like other countries with a long and troubled mining legacy, South Africa wants to ensure that the mistakes of past mining booms are not repeated.
That means limiting the damage and disruption to the surrounding environment and communities, creating local jobs and adding value to raw materials exports by processing minerals domestically.
A commitment to meeting higher standards
Frontier Rare Earths has committed to an assessment by the US-based Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), a voluntary global certification system for socially and environmentally responsible mining that gives miners an opportunity to show they are going beyond compliance.
“The intention is for the IRMA Standard to be useful early in the planning and development process so that future mines are developed in ways that reduce harm from the start,” Aimee Boulanger, IRMA’s executive director, told Climate Home News.
“The full audit report is made public, including the score for each requirement and the auditors’ notes on what evidence they found,” Boulanger said.
Steps pledged by the company for Zandkopsdrift include water-recycling systems to minimise consumption in the semi-arid Namaqualand region where it lies, local procurement targets and tailings storage facilities that are designed to prevent acidic mine drainage.
Additionally, under South Africa’s flagship Black economic empowerment programme, local communities will also hold a 26% stake in the project.
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And as a means to add value and create extra jobs, the IDC holds an option to buy up to 10% of Zandkopsdrift’s production at prevailing market prices, subject to it being used in further downstream processing in South Africa.
“That clause is crucial,” said Montmasson-Clair. “It suggests Pretoria sees value beyond simply digging and exporting. The question is whether South Africa has the industrial capacity to absorb that material, or whether this will catalyse new local beneficiation industries.”
“Who actually benefits?”
Despite the promises of economic benefits, some local people in Namaqualand are wary about the prospect of new mining projects in the semi-desert region, formerly a major diamond-producing area.
Water shortages are a constant worry here, especially among small-scale cattle farmers, and memories of past environmental abuses by mining companies linger.
“We have seen these promises before,” said Sarah Baartman, chair of the Namaqualand Communities Mining Forum, a group formed to demand greater control over mining activities on their land due to concerns over environmental degradation and a lack of economic benefits and public consultation.
“The question is always: who actually benefits? Every mining company says they will be different. Then the water tables drop, dust coats our livestock, and when the mine closes, we are left with contaminated land.”
The post South African rare earths project aims to rival Chinese with low-cost model appeared first on Climate Home News.
South African rare earths project aims to rival Chinese with low-cost model
Climate Change
FLIP OFF WOODSIDE TO SAVE SCOTT REEF: Greenpeace, Michael Caton, Thinkerbell mobilise Australia to challenge gas project at Scott Reef
6 November 2026
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has joined forces with Thinkerbell and iconic Australian actor Michael Caton on a major public movement and behaviour change initiative to save Scott Reef, calling on Australians to “flip off” gas corporation Woodside. The company plans to drill for gas at Australia’s largest oceanic reef, home to vulnerable green sea turtles, endangered pygmy blue whales, and thousands of marine species, off the coast of Western Australia.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
At the heart of the collaboration is somebody who knows a thing or two about fighting off corporations to protect a home: Michael Caton. Set in a courtroom, Caton gives his voice to a voiceless inhabitant, a green sea turtle, and together they invite the public to show their support to save Scott Reef.
Designed to shift public behaviour and drive national debate, the movement asks the public to tag their MPs – applying direct political pressure on Environment Minister Murray Watt and Prime Minister Albanese Albanese to “flip off” Woodside’s dirty gas project, which would see up to 57 toxic wells drilled around Scott Reef off the coast of Western Australia.
Voiced by Michael Caton and set to a soundtrack provided by Radiohead, the narrative centres on our hero turtle defending her home from corporate overreach in a courtroom showdown. As the turtle defiantly flips her flippers at Woodside, Michael Caton calls on everyday Australians to take a stand and help save her home.
Michael Caton said: “I’m proud to lend my voice to Greenpeace to help save Scott Reef. The marine life out there can’t speak up, so we need to. Some things are too precious to risk.”
Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, added: “Woodside’s dirty gas project at Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef, is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, threatening thousands of species, including the extremely vulnerable green sea turtles that nest there. By literally flipping off Woodside and Big Gas, Aussies are cutting through corporate spin and sending an unignorable message to Environment Minister Murray Watt and the Albanese government: save Scott Reef.”
Adam Ferrier, co-founder of Thinkerbell, said: “You can fight a corporation in the courtroom forever, but the real power to deliver lasting protection rests in parliament. Right now, our MPs hold an extraordinary opportunity to safeguard Scott Reef for generations to come. I’m proudly from WA, and I know how much the natural environment means to the people and economy of Western Australia. I’m also sure Woodside wants to do the right thing, and with enough public support and government action we’ll together save Scott Reef.
Paul Swann, Chief Creative Tinker at Thinkerbell notes: “When the stakes are this high, polite ads don’t work. You need an unignorable provocation that galvanises people and puts the pressure squarely where it belongs, on our leaders in Canberra. This isn’t just about protecting a reef; it’s about holding power to account.”
Greenpeace has been campaigning to stop Woodside’s dirty gas plans for years, increasing pressure on the Australian government to save Scott Reef from becoming an industrialised gas zone. From actions aboard Woodside’s gas platform to cinemas across Australia, Greenpeace isn’t backing off in their advocacy to save Scott Reef.
Rolling out across OOH, digital, social and cinema with an interactive landing page, this project will be amplified by high-profile figures urging Australians to take action, tag their MPs, and defend Scott Reef. The movement combines cinematic storytelling with organic social mobilsation and earned media, planned via Thinkerbell’s Alchemy model to drive real behaviour change and impact.
Marking their first Australian tour in 15 years, English rock band Radiohead will play 16 arena shows across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in May and June 2027. A $2 donation is included in every ticket price with proceeds going to Greenpeace Australia Pacific and the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Radiohead will match the final amount raised.
ENDS
WATCH NOW:
FOR ASSETS OR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Adam Ferrier | 0413 633 344 | adamferrier@thinkerbell.com
Kimberley Bernard | 0407 581 404 | kbernard@greenpeace.org
ABOUT THINKERBELL
Thinkerbell is a 9-year-old independent creative company. We practise Measured Magic – the coming together of marketing science and hardcore creativity – to help our clients build their brands and change behaviour.
ABOUT GREENPEACE
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is a global independent campaigning organisation that uses peaceful protest and creative confrontation to expose environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
Climate Change
Jimmy Barnes, King Gizz lead Aussie music supergroup on new release to save Scott Reef
SYDNEY, Monday 9 November 2026 — Australian music icons Jimmy Barnes AO, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Fred Leone, Gordi & Montaigne are among the more than 20 Australian artists who have joined forces to release a new song with an urgent message: save Scott Reef.
Released today, “If Not Now” is a reimagining of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s Environmental Music Prize-winning song “If Not Now, Then When?”, and is a collaboration between Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Green Music Australia, and p(doom) Records.
Scott Reef is a 15-million-year-old ancient coral reef located 270 kilometres off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia. It is Australia’s largest oceanic reef and is home to thousands of marine animals and endangered species, but fossil fuel corporation Woodside plans to drill up to 57 toxic wells under and around the reef, threatening to turn it into an industrial gas zone.
“If Not Now” is the reef’s first and only release, out on all digital platforms and on limited edition 7” vinyl. The song is accompanied by cover art and visualiser from acclaimed Australian artist and ARIA-winning music video director Jonathan Zawada (Flume, The Avalanches).
Speaking about the track, Stu Mackenzie (lead singer, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) said: “Why are we still digging up coal and gas? Why are we allowing this? Why is the Australian government so hell-bent on destroying our beautiful wild and untouched places? I’m proud that a King Gizz song was chosen to represent a growing movement of people who are asking these questions and applying pressure. Let’s shut it down and keep it beautiful.”
Rock legend Jimmy Barnes AO said: “Scott Reef is one of the few pristine reefs left in the world and it happens to be on our doorstep. We’re custodians of it — we’re supposed to be looking after it. It’s ridiculous. We must protect our country and look after what we value most, which is the nature and the beauty of this country.”
Hannah Schuch, Senior Campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “I’m filled with hope by the incredible musicians and artists who are using their voices and skills to amplify the voices of half a million Australians who are calling on the government to stop Woodside’s nature and climate-wrecking gas plans and save Scott Reef. Australian music has long been a powerful catalyst for change, so saving Scott Reef is a no-brainer for Australian music lovers.”
Contributing artists (in alphabetic order):
- Alex Lahey
- Brinkley Davies (marine biologist/freediver)
- Birdland
- Close Counters
- DOBBY
- Fred Leone (Artist of the Year at the 2026 NIMAs, singing in Butculla)
- Gordi
- John Butler
- Jimmy Barnes
- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
- Leah Senior
- Mahalia Barnes
- Montaigne
- Ngaiire
- NIDALA
- Peppa Lane (Spacey Jane)
- Ruby Rodgers (2026 Environmental Music Prize winner)
- Terry Guyula (Drifting Clouds, singing in Yolgu Matha)
- Tom Mahler (The Moving Stills)
- Urthboy
Production cast:
- Becki Whitton (G Flip, Allday, Stella Donnelly)
- Stu McKenzie (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard)
- Tay Blunt (FVNERAL)
- Tim Shiel (Green Music Australia)
Three generations of the Barnes family, Jimmy Barnes, his daughter, Mahalia Barnes and granddaughter Ruby Rodgers, contributed to the track.
The release comes amid growing national pressure on the Federal Government to save Scott Reef from Woodside’s gas drilling plans.
Last week, a leaked letter from WA’s environmental watchdog to Woodside revealed the agency deemed drilling risks to Scott Reef ‘serious, significant and irreversible’, while Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists occupied a major Woodside gas platform, and Perth communities delivered one of the biggest environmental petitions in Australia’s history to Woodside HQ.
The Federal Government is expected to make a decision on Woodside’s Scott Reef drilling plans in the coming months.
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Media contact
To arrange an interview or for more information, contact Emma Sangalli on 0431 513 465 or emma.sangalli@greenpeace.org
High res images and footage of Scott Reef can be found here (NEW) and here.
Jimmy Barnes, King Gizz lead Aussie music supergroup on new release to save Scott Reef