UND and Bulgaria Partner on Lignite Rare-Earth Research

The University of North Dakota and Bulgarian Energy Holding signed a memorandum to launch a transatlantic research partnership focused on extracting rare-earth elements from lignite coal in Bulgaria. UND’s College of Engineering and Mines and its Energy & Environmental Research Center have developed a prototype process and pilot plant for REE recovery from North Dakota lignite, a technology widely viewed as a leading approach for lignite-hosted critical minerals. Preliminary analyses indicate key similarities between North Dakota coal and lignite from Bulgaria’s Maritsa Basin, providing a technical basis for collaboration. Under the agreement, teams will conduct mineralogical characterization, advanced laboratory and pilot testing, techno-economic studies, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable resource-management planning. Partners plan to establish a Center for Critical Raw Materials Research in Bulgaria to support European supply chains and evaluate processing Maritsa Basin lignite for high‑value REE recovery. Near-term actions include expanded geological surveys, coal sampling, tailored extraction pilots, and a pre-feasibility study. Officials say the effort aims to accelerate commercialization of UND’s technology, reduce strategic dependencies, and advance lower‑impact mining and processing practices while strengthening scientific ties between the two countries.