Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) has begun expanding its White Mesa Mill in Utah to enable commercial-scale production of heavy rare earth oxides, advancing its strategy to build a fully integrated Western mine-to-magnet supply chain. The project will add capacity to produce terbium, dysprosium, samarium, europium and gadolinium oxides by the end of 2028, complementing the mill’s existing light rare earth oxide production. The company said the expansion is expected to support production of rare earth metals, alloys and magnets for the automotive, robotics, data center, energy and defense sectors while strengthening North American and European supply chains.
The approximately $104 million expansion is expected to be funded through a combination of government support and company capital, with commercial production tied to anticipated monazite feedstock from the Donald Project in Australia and other sources. Energy Fuels said the expanded facility is expected to supply a significant portion of the rare earth oxides needed by its pending acquisitions of Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASX: ASM) and Vacuumschmelze GmbH, supporting an integrated mine-to-magnet platform capable of producing enough permanent magnets annually for millions of electric vehicles, humanoid robots and other advanced technologies. The company noted that the White Mesa Mill is the only fully licensed conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S., and it also produces rare earth element products and evaluates medical isotope recovery for emerging cancer therapies.
This expansion represents a critical step in reducing reliance on Chinese-dominated rare earth supply chains, particularly for heavy rare earth elements essential for high-strength permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defense systems. For the mining industry, the project signals growing investment in domestic processing capabilities for critical minerals, which could reshape global supply dynamics. The integration with Australian and German acquisitions further underscores a trend toward vertical integration among Western rare earth producers, potentially offering more stable pricing and supply assurance for downstream industries. The timeline to 2028 aligns with projected demand growth from electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy infrastructure, making the timing strategically significant for investors and end-users alike.
Energy Fuels is a leading U.S. critical materials company specializing in uranium, rare earth elements, heavy mineral sands, vanadium, and the development of medical isotopes. The company owns several uranium projects in the western United States and has been the top U.S. producer of natural uranium concentrate. In addition to the White Mesa Mill, Energy Fuels is developing three heavy mineral sands/rare earths projects: the Vara Mada Project in Madagascar, Bahia Project in Brazil, and Donald Project in Australia through a joint venture with Astron Limited. The company’s shares trade on the NYSE American and TSX under the symbols "UUUU" and "EFR," respectively. More information is available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/UUUU.
