2519 5. MIDSTREAM READINESS AND VALUE ADDITION ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY MidReVa evaluates whether feasible pathways exist to develop midstream activities for systemically important minerals, with particular emphasis on repurposing existing industrial assets. The tool does not assess project profitability or bankability; rather, it functions as a screening and structuring instrument to inform policy dialogue and strategic planning. MidReVa is designed to be technology-agnostic, meaning it can be applied to other technologies and industrial value chains relevant to FWE Nexus critical minerals. It is intended to support repurposing and new capacity by explicitly assessing the potential to repurpose existing or underutilized industrial facilities, while remaining applicable to active facilities or expansion scenarios. The methodology of MidReVa relies on accessible, screening- and planning-relevant quantitative and semi-quantitative data, complemented by standardized qualitative expert judgement where necessary, allowing adaptation to different data environments without requiring perfect information. The assessment logic is deliberately backwards-looking from midstream requirements. It begins with the technical, infrastructural, and organizational needs of midstream processes (e.g. refining, chemical processing, precursor production) and evaluates whether existing facilities, capabilities, and enabling conditions could realistically support these activities. Rather than starting from mineral endowment alone, the tool examines how downstream demand and food, water, and energy systems needs translate into midstream processing requirements, and whether these requirements can be met through existing or “repurposable” industrial assets, supported by appropriate policy, infrastructure, and market conditions. The tool therefore requires an array of inputs for each of the different indices from feedstock and sources data, energy and water usage, industrial compatibility, workforce availability, ESG measures, and market information. The analytical logic of MidReVa is illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 152 MidReVa Analytical Logic MidReVa is structured around four composite indices that together provide a coherent, policyrelevant view of midstream opportunities. Each index captures distinct components of readiness, feasibility, or value creation, while remaining analytically complementary. Together, they support structured screening, comparative assessment, and sequencing of midstream options across national and industrial contexts. The indices are designed to balance technical feasibility, economic and sustainability considerations, and spatial and institutional conditions. They are applied consistently across facilities and jurisdictions using transparent scoring rubrics, while allowing sufficient flexibility to reflect national priorities, data availability, and policy objectives. The four composite indices are: • Repurposability Potential Index (RPI) – assesses the extent to which existing industrial facilities, infrastructure, and processes can be adapted for midstream activities, with a focus on reducing capital intensity, development time, and transition risk. • Enabling Conditions Index (ECI) – evaluates national and institutional conditions that enable midstream development, including regulatory certainty, policy coherence, and broader feasibility factors that influence implementation.
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