SC744 - Drilling and Monitoring Wells Services - Nolans Project

Overview Arafura Rare Earths Pty Ltd is seeking a contractor to provide drilling and monitoring well services to support a geotechnical and hydrogeological investigation at the Nolans Project in the Northern Territory. About Arafura Rare Earths Limited is an Australian, ASX-listed company (ASX:ARU) focused on the responsible future production of the rare earths elements Neodymium and Praseodymium (NdPr) and heavy rare earths from its Nolans Project in the Northern Territory. The Nolans Project, 135 kilometres north of Alice Springs, is a fully permitted, construction-ready, single site ore-to-oxide project with an anticipated mine life of 38 years. As a fully integrated operation, Nolans will encompass a mine, process plant (comprising beneficiation, extraction and separation plants) and related infrastructure. The Project is strategically located in the Northern Territory and is recognised as a globally significant and strategic NdPr project which, once developed, will become a major supplier of these critical minerals to the high-performance NdFeB permanent magnet market. On 21 May 2026, Arafura advised that its Board of Directors has achieved Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Nolans Rare Earths Project (Nolans Project or the Project), marking a significant milestone in the transition of the project into execution. Hatch has been appointed as EPCM contractor for the Nolans Project. Arafura is transitioning execution management of the Project to Hatch, and as the execution plan and procurement packaging are finalised, Hatch will be the primary contact for procurement and contracting engagement. Purpose To support detailed engineering design of the proposed Residue Storage Facility (RSF) and associated infrastructure at the Nolans Rare Earths Project, a geotechnical investigation is required to assess foundation conditions and collect geotechnical and hydrogeological data. The investigation will comprise geotechnical drilling, monitoring well installation, laboratory testing and factual reporting. Scope The scope includes: Drilling of twenty (20) PQ-3 diamond core boreholes within the vicinity of the RSF, extending to a maximum of 5 m into competent continuous bedrock, anticipated at approximately 15 m below natural ground level Drilling of two (2) HQ-3 diamond core boreholes to a depth of 60 m below natural ground level for hydrogeological investigations Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs) at nominal 1.5 m intervals in soil Collection of undisturbed thin-walled push tube samples in suitable soils Groundwater observations and measurements where groundwater is encountered Falling head permeability testing at locations nominated by the Technical Supervisor Installation and development of nine (9) monitoring wells using 50 mm uPVC PN12 casing, including monument covers and associated well construction materials In-situ permeability (Lugeon) testing within rock units at proposed monitoring well locations Provision of all personnel, drilling equipment, tools, consumables, casing, well materials, sampling equipment, transport, maintenance equipment, fuel, spare parts and other resources necessary to complete the work Sample storage and transport to the nominated geotechnical testing laboratory Laboratory testing on selected soil and rock samples, which may include particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, compaction, California Bearing Ratio, moisture content, permeability, triaxial testing, simple shear testing, point load testing, uniaxial compressive strength testing, and rock index testing, with final testing requirements determined following completion of field investigations and sample recovery Compilation of investigation results into a Geotechnical Factual Report, including investigation logs, monitoring well details, laboratory test results, investigation location plans, photographs and associated factual data to support geotechnical interpretation and detailed design activities Instructions to Tenderers Hatch has been appointed as EPCM contractor for the Nolans Project and will be the primary contact for procurement and contracting engagement as the execution plan and procurement packaging are finalised. For more information about the Project, please refer to the Company website: https://www.arultd.com/ Enquiries Project Primary Contact: Industry Capability Network (NT), +61 08 8922 9422