[Ferro-Alloys.com] Energy Fuels announced the execution of a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with Nanoscale Powders LLC (“NSP”) for the development of innovative technology for the production of rare earth element (“REE”) metals.

“Metal-making is a critical step in the rare earth supply chain. Energy Fuels has already restored monazite ‘crack-and-leach’ capabilities to the U.S. at our White Mesa Mill in Utah, where today we are producing a high-purity mixed rare earth carbonate, which is ready for separation. No other company in the U.S. is currently producing a high-purity REE product ready for separation at commercial levels. We are also quickly moving toward adding solvent extraction separation equipment at the Mill and associated permitting that will allow us to produce commercial separated rare earth oxide powders in the coming years,” said Energy Fuels president and CEO Mark S. Chalmers.

“The next step in rare earth processing and refining is turning those separated rare earth oxide powders into usable rare earth metals and alloys, particularly NdPr metal needed for NdFeB magnets used in EVs, wind generation, and other technologies. We are interested in Nanoscale Powders’ technology because we believe it has the potential to produce REE metals at lower cost, using less energy, and producing significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional REE metal making methods. If successful, Nanoscale’s metal-making technology could be orders of magnitude safer and less expensive than the current established technology. This is the type of technology we as Americans need to develop to produce advanced rare earth materials in a cost-competitive manner while achieving the highest standards of protection of public health, safety, and the environment. Nanoscale Powders has proven their technology on a small scale, and we look forward to working with them to advance the technology to pilot scale, and then to commercial scale in the coming years. Our relationship with Nanoscale Powders demonstrates Energy Fuels’ commitment to fully integrating a domestic REE processing supply chain in the most optimal and environmentally prudent manner possible.”

• [Editor:tianyawei]