Binding Deal with Ucore for U.S. REE Refining Independence
| Stock | MTM Critical Metals Ltd (MTM.ASX) |
|---|---|
| Release Time | 16 Sep 2025, 8:23 a.m. |
| Price Sensitive | Yes |
Metallium and Ucore Forge Binding Collaboration to Unlock U.S. Rare Earth Element Supply Chain Independence
- Binding 12-month agreement to integrate Metallium's FJH with Ucore's RapidSX™ to create first U.S. pathway for REE feedstocks to separated oxide products
- Enables U.S.-based refining without reliance on Chinese infrastructure, with focus on heavy REEs like dysprosium and terbium
- Collaboration to explore joint submissions for U.S. government grants and strategic funding opportunities
Metallium Limited (ASX: MTM) has entered into a binding 12-month Technology Collaboration Agreement with Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU), a leading North American rare earth element (REE) separation company backed by the U.S. Department of War. The agreement will see the parties process each other's feedstocks, integrating Metallium's Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology with Ucore's RapidSX™ separation platform to create the first U.S. pathway for taking a diverse range of REE feedstocks to separated oxide products. This collaboration positions Metallium at the front end of Ucore's U.S.-based supply chain, with Metallium's FJH platform able to unlock feedstocks that are currently stranded or heavily discounted, particularly those rich in heavy REEs like dysprosium and terbium. The parties will also explore joint submissions for U.S. government grants and strategic funding opportunities to support scale-up and commercial deployment, including for the treatment of mine tailings. The agreement provides Metallium with entry into the U.S. magnet recycling market, a rapidly growing downstream sector. The collaboration is aligned with growing U.S. federal government backing for domestic REE supply chain independence, including a recent multibillion-dollar strategic partnership between the U.S. Department of War and MP Materials.
The 12-month collaboration will advance through a staged program of testwork and pilot operations, with bench-scale testing and pilot-scale production to be conducted over the next 6-9 months. The results of this program will underpin evaluation of commercial models, including licensing, tolling, and joint ventures. In parallel, Metallium is continuing its research program with Rice University on the application of FJH technology directly to REE separation, maintaining multiple technical pathways while aligning with Ucore on near-term commercial deployment.