Honeywell announced that its Integrated Controls and Safety System, or ICSS, will be designed and implemented at Iluka Resources’ Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia as part of a project to improve safety and production efficiency.
Through a strategic partnership between the Australian Government and Iluka, the refinery will produce rare earth oxides that are essential inputs to defense systems, electric and hybrid vehicles, robotics, sustainable energy technologies, and consumer, industrial and agricultural applications. Once completed, it will also be the first fully integrated rare earths refinery in Australia.
The automation and safety controls implemented by Iluka will include Honeywell Experion PKS, Universal Operation Controllers (UOC), and advanced remote-control systems. Implementing Honeywell’s Experion distributed control system will allow Iluka to have plant-wide control of its facility with a fully integrated automation system, transforming how plant automation projects are executed.
Additionally, Honeywell will provide safety systems that will help Iluka minimize incident risks while maximizing production uptime. The full solution will include enhanced cybersecurity features to protect operations both onsite and in the cloud.
“The Eneabba rare earths refinery is a significant project that underscores the importance of expanding the critical minerals sector in Australia and diversifying the rare earths supply chain,” said Craig Renner, Project Director, Iluka Resources. “As a partner in this endeavor, Honeywell brings decades of automation domain expertise to increase productivity at the refinery while keeping our most important assets, our workers, safe.”
Iluka’s refinery has a capital cost of A$1.7 to $1.8 billion and will produce up to 6,250 tonnes annually of separated neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium oxides.
“Our partnership with Iluka demonstrates how automation is a key driver of the global energy transition supply chain,” said Pramesh Maheshwari, President, Honeywell Process Solutions. “With Honeywell’s extensive expertise in automation, Iluka will be equipped with the necessary tools to enhance the safety and efficiency of its operations, which are vital for supporting a more sustainable future.”
Iluka’s Eneabba refinery is expected to be commissioned in 2027.
Source: Honeywell.com