Pentagon‑Backed Ucore Rare‑Earth Refinery in Louisiana

Ucore Rare Metals is building a Pentagon‑backed rare‑earth refinery in Louisiana intended to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign processing. Commissioning is planned by mid‑2026, with staged capacity rising from 2,500 to 12,000 tonnes per year and the ability to process both light and heavy rare earths, including samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium and terbium. The project has received $22.4 million in Department of Defense OTA grants since 2022, complemented by $15 million in Louisiana tax incentives and about $4.3 million from Canadian programs. A recent private placement raised $15.5 million in 48 hours. Ucore reports an 80,000‑square‑foot site with civil work complete and 3D scans prepared to replicate the facility model. Key to the strategy is feedstock diversification: a partnership with Metallium will apply Flash Joule Heating to convert e‑waste and magnet scrap into soluble chlorides compatible with Ucore’s RapidSX™ separation platform, reducing reliance on conventional ores. DoD teams are conducting quarterly reviews and fast‑tracking equipment orders via DPAS; prospective customers are already engaging. Management signals a potential second plant, but expansion depends on commissioning proving throughput, product quality and reliable feedstock supply.