Ioneer expects partner search to conclude in H1 2026

Ioneer (ASX: INR) (NASDAQ: IONR) currently anticipates to finish its companion look for the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mine task in Nevada throughout the initial fifty percent of 2026, the business stated in a year-end upgrade Friday.

In July, the Australian mine designer launched a formal strategic partnering process after Sibanye-Stillwater (JSE: SSW)( NYSE: SBSW) took out of the task previously in the year. At the time, ioneer stated the companion search, which is being suggested by Goldman Sachs, would certainly use up to 4 months. Nevertheless, the procedure has actually been dragged right into the brand-new year, which the business credits to market and geopolitical aspects.

In its most current upgrade, ioneer stated it continues to be certain that the coming year will certainly note a “transformational duration” for the business, offered Rhyolite Ridge’s standing as an one-of-a-kind lithium-boron task that has actually been sustained by the United States federal government in the type of a $996 million funding.

Both lithium and boron are marked as important minerals by the United States Geological Study. The latter was simply lately consisted of in the checklist as a result of its significance to nationwide protection as an input in innovative shield, high-strength magnets and nuclear protecting.

Previously this month, Bloomberg reported that ioneer is looking to become a major boron player by getting the United States possessions held by Rio Tinto (ASX, LSE: RIO), which might be valued as high as $2 billion.

Shares of ioneer gotten by almost dual numbers throughout Friday’s United States trading session, trading at $4.61 each with a market capitalization of $306.8 million.

Advanced lithium-boron possession

The Rhyolite Ridge task, situated 362 kilometres north of Las Las vega, includes among the biggest lithium-boron sources in the United States. With all authorizations in position and over 70% of its engineering layout full, it is likewise one of the most innovative lithium-boron task in the nation.

Ioneer has actually been dealing with the task considering that 2016, and reeled in Sibanye-Stillwater as its companion in 2019. Nevertheless, in February 2025, the South African miner bowed out its recommended $490 million financial investment for a 50% risk in the task.

For its following companion, ioneer strategies to offer a smaller sized risk (40%) and has actually approximated a greater evaluation for the task, according to a record previously this yearby the Financial Times

Before introducing the companion search, the business had actually launched an upgraded clear-cut expediency research study on Rhyolite Ridge that considerably enhanced the task business economics, consisting of a close to quadrupling of its forecasted mine life (at 95 years) and a 20% rise in web existing worth (to $1.5 billion).

The brand-new DFS, launched in June, utilized a broadened ore get price quote that ioneer later on verified at 7.8 million tonnes of boric acid and 2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate, which it stated suffice to sustain a first 77-year mine strategy. On a lithium carbonate matching (LCE) basis, the task rests within the most affordable price quartile internationally, sustained by the co-production of boric acid, it included.

These enhancements raised typical yearly lithium manufacturing for several years 1-25 from 19,200 tonnes to 24,500 tonnes LCE, while enhancing typical yearly boric acid manufacturing from 116,400 tonnes to 135,500 tonnes, the business stated in its upgrade.