Ucore Enters into Strategic Partnership with Metallium Limited

Core Viewpoint - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. has signed a strategic technology collaboration agreement with Metallium Limited to enhance rare earth refining capabilities through the integration of Metallium's Flash Joule Heating technology with Ucore's RapidSX technology [1][4][12] Collaboration Details - The partnership aims to combine Metallium's FJH process, which upgrades rare earth mineral concentrates to Mixed Rare Earth Chlorides (MREC), with Ucore's RapidSX technology for refining at its Louisiana facility [2][4] - The collaboration will explore alternative feedstocks, including magnet scrap, e-waste, and lighting waste, to produce separated rare earth oxides (REOs) such as neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb) [4][7] Technological Integration - Metallium's FJH technology serves as an upstream upgrading step, producing high-purity mixed REE chloride intermediates that are then refined into individual REOs using Ucore's RapidSX separation platform [10][11] - The integrated flowsheet is designed to be scalable and capable of processing a wide range of REE-bearing feedstocks, including primary mineral concentrates and recycled materials [10][11] Strategic Importance - The collaboration supports Ucore's goal of establishing a robust rare earth supply chain in North America, reducing reliance on Chinese sources and enhancing domestic production capabilities [3][14] - Ucore's RapidSX technology is recognized for its modular and scalable nature, which is essential for separating individual rare earth oxides from diverse feedstock sources [3][4] Future Steps - The agreement includes a staged program for testing and pilot operations, with initial bench-scale testing focusing on processing Ucore-supplied rare earth concentrate through Metallium's FJH system [7][12] - The second stage will involve pilot-scale production of mixed REE chlorides for processing at Ucore's Commercial Demonstration Plant in Kingston, Ontario [7][12]