Ucore Rare Metals Secures $18.4 Million DoD Award to Advance Domestic Rare Earth Element Production
TL;DR
Ucore's $18.4 million DoD award accelerates its Louisiana facility, positioning it to dominate domestic rare earth supply and reduce reliance on China.
The funding supports detailed engineering, equipment procurement, and construction to scale RapidSX technology for commercial readiness by late 2026.
This project strengthens U.S. rare earth independence, creating a more secure and sustainable supply chain for critical technologies.
Ucore's innovative RapidSX platform uses column-based solvent extraction to revolutionize rare earth element separation methods.
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Ucore Rare Metals Inc. has secured an $18.4 million phase 2 award from the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate engineering, procurement and site work for its Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex. This funding reinforces the company's leadership in domestic heavy rare earth element supply and represents a significant step toward reducing American dependence on foreign-controlled REE separation methods.
The phase 2 award expands upon an earlier $4 million phase 1 demonstration project and supports detailed engineering, long-lead equipment procurement and early-stage construction at the LA SMC facility in Alexandria, Louisiana. Ucore's RapidSX™ column-based solvent extraction platform, already proven under phase 1 funding, is central to the company's mission to disrupt China's control of legacy REE separation technologies.
This development is crucial for national security and technological independence, as rare earth elements are essential components in defense systems, renewable energy technologies, and electronic devices. The funding positions Ucore for mechanical completion of the facility in late 2026 with minimal equity dilution, scaling RapidSX to commercial readiness. For more information about the company's progress, visit https://www.ucore.com.
The strategic importance of this investment extends beyond immediate commercial applications. By developing domestic processing capabilities, the United States can secure its supply chain for critical materials needed in advanced manufacturing, military applications, and clean energy technologies. The successful implementation of RapidSX technology could establish new industry standards for rare earth element separation, potentially transforming global supply dynamics and reducing geopolitical vulnerabilities associated with concentrated production in single countries.
Curated from InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
