France opens Europe's first rare-earth magnet recycling pilot

In Grenoble, Orano and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) have inaugurated Europe’s first pilot line dedicated to recycling and remanufacturing high‑performance rare‑earth permanent magnets. The facility implements a short‑loop process developed over a decade of CEA research and collaboration with Orano: rare earths are extracted in metallic form from end‑of‑life NdFeB magnets and reintegrated into new magnets designed to meet the same performance standards as virgin material. Industrial‑scale equipment now on site will validate process parameters, material purity and magnet properties under near‑production conditions. Backed by France Relance and Horizon Europe funding and operating within the Magellan and Magnolia consortia, the pilot line is intended as a testbed to de‑risk scale‑up and provide validated methods for European manufacturers. Full programme results are expected by the end of 2026. By closing material loops, the initiative aims to reduce pressure on mined resources, cut lifecycle environmental impacts, and strengthen European supply security for critical magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind generators and other clean‑energy technologies.