- The LOI sets the stage for a potential decade of supply from Critical Metals’ Tanbreez project in southern Greenland.
- The Louisiana facility is being designed as a first-of-its-kind rare earth separation plant capable of processing both light and heavy rare earths at commercial scale.
- The timing of this agreement is particularly significant given the surging demand for rare earths globally.
A decade-long supply agreement linking Greenland’s vast rare earth deposits with Louisiana’s growing role as a U.S. processing hub is poised to shift the balance of critical mineral independence in North America. Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) has signed a letter of intent (“LOI”) with Critical Metals Corp. to secure up to 10,000 metric tons of heavy rare earth concentrate annually starting in 2027, anchoring a reliable feedstock for its Department of Defense (“DoD”)–supported Louisiana facility (https://nnw.fm/MfIJW) (https://ibn.fm/Ufn3x). With Greenland’s Tanbreez Project recognized as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth resources and Louisiana strategically positioned as an industrial gateway, this agreement underscores Ucore’s mission to build a fully integrated, North American supply chain for the technologies that will power the clean energy future and strengthen national security.
The newly signed nonbinding LOI sets the stage for a potential decade of supply from Critical Metals’ Tanbreez project in southern Greenland, which hosts a massive deposit of eudialyte rich in heavy rare earth elements. Under the terms of the agreement, shipments of up to 10,000 metric tons per year would begin in 2027 and extend for at least 10 years. This long-term vision is designed not only to provide stability for Ucore’s processing operations but also to offer assurance to end users across defense, clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors that reliable, non-Chinese sources of rare earths are on the horizon.
Rare earth elements, including dysprosium and terbium contained within heavy rare earth concentrates, are indispensable to technologies such as permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense applications. Currently, more than 90% of the world’s heavy rare earth processing occurs in China (https://ibn.fm/wEUsu), leaving Western economies vulnerable to supply disruptions. By securing feedstock from Greenland and advancing its state-of-the-art Strategic Metals Complex in Alexandria, Louisiana, Ucore is taking a critical step toward reshaping the supply-demand balance and reducing dependence on foreign sources.
The Louisiana facility, which has already received significant funding commitments from the U.S. Department of Defense (https://ibn.fm/Copc5), is being designed as a first-of-its-kind rare earth separation plant capable of processing both light and heavy rare earths at commercial scale. According to Ucore, the facility will utilize its proprietary RapidSX(TM) separation technology, which has been developed and tested over the past decade as a cost-efficient and scalable alternative to traditional solvent extraction. By combining this advanced technology with a long-term feedstock arrangement from Critical Metals, Ucore is positioning Louisiana as a cornerstone of the North American rare earth supply chain.
The Tanbreez Project, held by Critical Metals Corp., is widely regarded as one of the largest untapped rare earth deposits in the world, with more than four billion tons of ore containing significant concentrations of heavy rare earths (https://ibn.fm/QOKIr). Its location in Greenland, a territory with close political and trade ties to the West, makes it a strategically attractive partner for Ucore’s mission. A steady stream of concentrate from Tanbreez would not only de-risk Ucore’s operations but also send a strong signal to end users and policymakers that alternatives to Chinese dominance in the sector are viable.
The timing of this agreement is particularly significant given the surging demand for rare earths globally. Market research forecasts suggest that demand for rare earth magnets alone could more than double by 2035, driven primarily by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy systems (https://ibn.fm/V1FOw). Without new sources of heavy rare earth supply, the West risks a supply shortfall that could derail ambitious clean energy transition goals and compromise the production of critical defense technologies. Ucore’s LOI with Critical Metals represents a proactive response to these challenges, bringing certainty and visibility to a sector that has long been marked by volatility and geopolitical risk.
While Ucore’s LOI with Critical Metals is currently non-binding, it lays the groundwork for a definitive supply agreement that would give the company a durable competitive advantage in the global rare earth race. The company continues to advance engineering and financing for its Louisiana facility, with construction targeted to align with the anticipated start of feedstock deliveries in 2027. With support from both the private sector and the U.S. government, Ucore’s vision is rapidly taking shape as one of the most ambitious efforts to date to secure domestic rare earth independence.
From Greenland’s resource-rich Tanbreez deposit to Louisiana’s cutting-edge processing hub, Ucore is stitching together the pieces of a supply chain that could alter the trajectory of rare earth independence in North America. By securing a potential decade of feedstock through the agreement, the company is not only addressing the immediate needs of its Pentagon-backed facility but is also charting a course toward long-term resilience in one of the world’s most strategically important markets. In doing so, Ucore underscores its commitment to building a rare earth future that is not only technologically advanced but also geopolitically secure, ensuring that North America can compete and thrive in the global clean energy and defense landscapes.
For more information, visit www.Ucore.com.
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