#United States #Houston #Rare Earth Elements #Metallium Ltd #Semiconductor Materials

Metallium Advances Texas Facility Development

Metallium Ltd. has made a notable announcement regarding the expansion of its operations in Texas. The company plans to add a second demonstration line at its first commercial facility, which is set to be commissioned in December. This new line will specifically focus on the processing of rare earth elements (REE) and semiconductor feedstocks, responding to the increasing demand amidst global supply chain disruptions.

The Need for Resilient Supply Chains

In light of escalating Chinese export controls, especially regarding technology for rare earth elements, the importance of establishing a secure supply chain has become imperative. Michael Walshe, Managing Director and CEO of Metallium, emphasized this need, pointing out that their technology is designed to provide a clean, rapid, and scalable processing alternative—all developed and deployed within the United States. This initiative positions Metallium with its technology partner, Ucore Rare Metals Inc., uniquely to offer the necessary materials and technology for U.S. allied supply-chain independence from China.

Features of the Texas Facility

The Texas facility is a pioneering step in recycling high-value metals, particularly gold and silver harvested from e-waste. This facility will also ensure a non-Chinese refining pathway for rare earths, gallium, and germanium, which are crucial for various industries. The plant remains on track for commissioning in December, with plans to ramp up operations throughout early 2026.

Key highlights of the project include:

• - Scale-Up: The facility's capacity will scale up from an initial design of 360 tons per annum (tpa) to 8,000 tpa for printed circuit board (PCB) feed capacity, coupled with a planned ramp-up to Stage 1 scale by Q3 2026.
• - Infrastructure Ready for Expansion: The core infrastructure has been configured for seamless expansion to Stage 2 capacity, allowing for an increase to 16,000 tpa with additional equipment.
• - Dedicated Specialty Materials Line: A new demonstration line will process rare-earth-element tailings and semiconductor feedstocks, enhancing capabilities for domestic, non-Chinese processing pathways.
• - Focus on High-Value Recovery: The first operational line will concentrate on extracting profitable metals like gold, silver, copper, and tin, which are currently trading at significant price levels.
• - Environmental Upgrades: The site is undergoing civil and electrical enhancements, alongside the installation of environmental scrubber systems to ensure compliance with modern environmental standards.

The innovative Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology employed by Metallium enables efficient extraction from a variety of sources, including mine concentrates, tailings, and electronics waste. This versatile processing route significantly shortens traditional flowsheets while reducing reliance on Chinese refining processes. This adaptability is pivotal to addressing the full lifecycle of critical metals, ranging from extraction through to recycling.

A Promising Future

As global dynamics continue to reshape trade relationships, Metallium's approach positions it at the forefront of a sustainable and resilient critical metals ecosystem within the U.S. They are pioneering a low-carbon, high-efficiency method for recovering essential and precious metals, with a focus on environmentally friendly practices. With their first commercial site established in Texas via their subsidiary, Flash Metals USA Inc., Metallium is poised to contribute significantly to the U.S. market's need for reliable and sustainable metallurgical solutions.

The ongoing commitment to expanding their Texas facility underlines Metallium's strategic vision to create a robust supply chain for rare earth and critical metals, elevating their role in the global market while supporting national interests.