US-based uranium producer Energy Fuels has achieved a significant milestone by starting commercial production of NdPr at its White Mesa Mill in Utah. The NdPr produced meets the specifications required by rare earth element (REE) metal-makers for the manufacture of permanent magnets, crucial for electric vehicles and hybrid power systems.
Energy Fuels has successfully reached full design capacity of its new Phase 1 REE separation circuit, with commercial quantities of separated NdPr expected to be available for shipment by the end of June 2024. This achievement marks the first time in decades that a US company has produced on-spec separated REEs from monazite on a commercial scale.
The construction of the Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit was completed under budget in Q1 2024, highlighting the company’s efficient operations. Energy Fuels remains committed to maintaining its uranium production capabilities while integrating REE separation processes.
In Q2 2024, Energy Fuels anticipates producing 25–35t of on-spec, separated NdPr, along with plans to produce a samarium-plus heavy REE concentrate and recover uranium from the monazite feedstocks. The company is also pilot-scaling dysprosium and terbium separation to meet metal and alloy-making specifications.
Energy Fuels president and CEO Mark Chalmers expressed pride in the company’s achievement, stating that the commercial production of separated rare earths in the US marks a significant step towards enhancing national and economic security. With a focus on both rare earth element production and uranium production, Energy Fuels is poised for continued success in the mining industry.
