Energy Fuels Inc. has announced the achievement of commercial production of separated neodymium-praseodymium at its White Mesa Mill in Utah, with the material meeting specifications required by rare earth element metal makers for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The company has reached full design capacity of its phase 1 rare earth element separation circuit, capable of producing 850 to 1,000 metric tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium annually, with commercial quantities expected to be available for shipment by the end of the month.
This milestone represents the first time in several decades that a U.S. company has produced on-spec separated rare earth elements from monazite on a commercial scale. The production of neodymium-praseodymium is a critical step in the supply chain for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, highlighting the growing importance of domestic rare earth element production in the United States. Energy Fuels' advancement in rare earth element production underscores the company's role in the transition toward cleaner energy and transportation technologies.
The White Mesa Mill's achievement comes at a time when demand for rare earth elements is increasing globally, particularly for applications in renewable energy and electric mobility. The facility's capacity to produce commercial quantities of separated neodymium-praseodymium addresses a key bottleneck in the manufacturing of high-performance permanent magnets essential for electric vehicle motors. This development reduces reliance on foreign sources of these critical materials and enhances supply chain security for the U.S. automotive and clean energy sectors.
Energy Fuels' successful production demonstrates the viability of domestic rare earth element processing capabilities, which had been largely absent from the U.S. industrial landscape for decades. The company's progress at the White Mesa Mill contributes to broader efforts to establish a complete rare earth element supply chain within the United States, from mining to separation and eventual magnet production. This achievement supports national strategic interests in securing access to materials vital for defense applications and clean energy technologies.
The commercial production of neodymium-praseodymium at the White Mesa Mill represents a significant step forward in the domestic rare earth element industry, providing a reliable source of these materials for manufacturers of electric vehicles and other advanced technologies. As the global transition to electric transportation accelerates, the availability of domestically produced rare earth elements becomes increasingly important for maintaining competitiveness and technological leadership. Energy Fuels' accomplishment at its Utah facility positions the company as a key player in the evolving landscape of critical materials production in North America.
