Astron Limited to Showcase Donald Rare Earth Project at Noosa Mining Conference on July 22, 2026

Astron’s Extensive Experience in Mineral Processing and Rare Earth Development

With over 35 years in the minerals sector, Astron Limited has established a strong foundation in mineral sands processing, downstream product development, and marketing of zirconium and titanium products. This deep technical expertise and market presence underpin the company’s current focus on advancing the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project. Astron leverages its extensive experience in mineral processing and commercialisation to unlock value from critical mineral resources.

In addition to project development, Astron operates a mineral sands trading business that generates steady revenue and market insights. This dual strategy balances long-term growth ambitions with operational stability, enabling exposure to mineral sands markets while progressing the Donald Project. This approach positions Astron to benefit from both near-term commodity flows and future rare earth production.

Donald Project’s Vast Resource and Extended Mine Life: 1.81 Billion Tonnes Over 52+ Years

Located in regional Victoria, the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project boasts a substantial mineral resource totaling 1.81 billion tonnes. The project’s planned mine life exceeds 52 years, structured across two development phases. This long-duration asset is designed to sustain production and revenue through multiple commodity cycles, reflecting the scale and phased development strategy.

The phased approach allows Astron to manage capital deployment, operational scaling, and market conditions effectively. Early phases will demonstrate operational capabilities and market value before committing to further expansion. The extensive mine life highlights the project’s potential as a long-term producer within Australia’s rare earth and mineral sands sector.

Focus on Critical Rare Earth Elements: Neodymium, Praseodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium

The Donald Project targets production of critical rare earth elements essential to global supply chains, specifically neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. Neodymium and praseodymium are vital for high-strength permanent magnets used in renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicle motors. Dysprosium and terbium improve magnet performance at high temperatures, supporting aerospace and defense applications. This combination positions the Donald Project as a key supplier of multiple critical minerals in global demand.

Securing rare earth supply chains is a strategic priority worldwide, with Australia’s rare earth capacity development aligning with efforts to diversify sources and build strategic reserves. The Donald Project’s output addresses supply gaps and offers investors exposure to a sector driven by long-term structural demand. The focus on dysprosium and terbium, which have smaller global supply bases, underscores the project’s premium strategic value.

Noosa Mining Conference Presentation: Engaging Investors Directly

Astron’s presentation at the Noosa Mining Conference demonstrates a focused investor engagement strategy within the mining sector. Managing Director Tiger Brown will present on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 at 1.00pm (AEST), providing investors with direct insights into project strategy, timelines, and market positioning. Hosting the presentation at a dedicated mining conference highlights Astron’s commitment to engaging stakeholders focused on mineral development opportunities.

The presentation will be accessible remotely via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.org/meeting/register/Ho-0CZMDRxCRdESUHABDFw), broadening participation for domestic and international investors. This hybrid approach facilitates wider engagement and offers qualitative insights into management’s vision, operational progress, capital requirements, and market dynamics influencing the project.

Strategic Location in Regional Victoria and Alignment with Australian Mineral Policies

The Donald Project’s location in regional Victoria situates Astron within an established mining region with infrastructure, regulatory experience, and supply chain advantages. The area’s historical mining activity and logistics networks support mineral production and export. Operating in a mature mining jurisdiction offers benefits in permitting, workforce availability, and regulatory familiarity compared to greenfield sites. Astron’s focus on Australian mineral resources aligns with government priorities for onshore processing and value-adding industries.

Australia’s critical minerals strategy emphasizes domestic processing capacity to support manufacturing and exports. Astron’s rare earth and mineral sands development aligns with these objectives. The company’s mineral sands expertise and processing track record provide a strong foundation for navigating regulatory frameworks and capitalizing on policy support amid increasing global emphasis on supply chain security.

Independent Mineral Resource Estimates and Competent Person Verification

The Donald Project’s mineral resource estimates have been independently compiled and verified by qualified Competent Persons. The MIN5532 resource estimate was prepared by Mrs Christine Standing, a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, from Optiro Pty Ltd (Snowden Optiro). The RL2002 resource estimate was prepared by Mr Rod Webster, also a member of both institutes, from AMC Consultants Pty Ltd. Both experts are independent of Astron and comply with the 2012 Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources, and Ore Reserves.

Independent verification is essential for publicly listed mineral companies, providing third-party validation of resource size and quality. These Competent Person endorsements reinforce confidence in the reported 1.81 billion tonne resource and support the project’s long-term mine life projections. Utilizing reputable consultants Snowden Optiro and AMC Consultants enhances the credibility of Astron’s resource disclosures.

Sector Trends: Rising Global Demand for Rare Earths and Critical Minerals

The rare earth sector is experiencing robust structural demand growth fueled by renewable energy adoption, transport electrification, and defense technology advancements. Neodymium and praseodymium demand is strong due to their use in high-performance magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles. Dysprosium and terbium are critical for high-temperature magnet applications, adding further demand. Supply constraints and geographic concentration have driven major economies to seek diversified, reliable sources beyond traditional suppliers.

Australia’s rare earth production development is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends and global supply diversification efforts. Key markets including the US and EU are investing in onshore rare earth supply chains to reduce strategic risks. Astron’s Donald Project, with its scale and resource base, is poised to benefit if it advances through development and achieves competitive production. Investors tracking critical minerals view rare earth developers as beneficiaries of sustained structural demand growth.

Risks and Uncertainties in Project Development

Advancing the Donald Project from development to production entails various risks beyond Astron’s direct control. Regulatory and permitting processes in Victoria and Australia involve environmental assessments, community consultation, and government approvals that may impose conditions or delays impacting project economics. Capital costs for mine and processing infrastructure are subject to inflation and financing availability. Commodity price volatility can affect project viability, with rare earth price declines potentially reducing returns. Supply-demand shifts due to technology or competitive supply changes also pose risks.

Operational risks include mining and processing cost fluctuations, metallurgical performance, and market offtake challenges. The company’s presentation will address these risk factors for investor consideration. The 52+ year mine life depends on sustained demand over decades, introducing long-term forecasting uncertainty. Successful project advancement will require effective capital raising, permitting, construction, and favorable market conditions. Mineral development investors typically face multi-year timelines before production and revenue, during which project assumptions may evolve materially.

Investor Engagement and Upcoming Milestones for Astron

The Noosa Mining Conference presentation offers investors a direct opportunity to engage with Astron’s strategic vision and project updates. Investors can register for the event via the provided link to hear Managing Director Tiger Brown’s address at 1.00pm (AEST) on 22 July 2026. Post-presentation, there may be opportunities for further discussions on project specifics, timelines, and capital plans. This event provides valuable qualitative insight into Astron’s positioning and management confidence in advancing the Donald Project.

Future milestones likely include permitting progress, detailed engineering, rare earth offtake market engagement, capital raising, and construction commencement. Astron’s active communication through industry conferences reflects a proactive investor relations approach to maintain market awareness. The project’s extensive mine life and phased development will generate ongoing news flow and milestones. Investors seeking exposure to Australian rare earth and critical mineral development will monitor Astron’s updates for signs of progress and value creation.