JL MAG Rare-Earth to Acquire 9.24% Stake in Baotou Exchange for 22.0836M Yuan

[SMM Rare Earth Flash] Aclara Resources, listed in Toronto, announced that its Penco rare earth project in the Biobío Region of Chile has obtained the final environmental permit, clearing a key hurdle for the project's advancement. The project, being developed by Aclara in partnership with Chile's Steel and Mining Group (CAP), is an ion-adsorption type rare earth deposit with an expected investment of $130 million, and is expected to create nearly 700 construction jobs and 400 operational jobs. The company plans to integrate the Penco project into its mine-to-magnet supply chain strategy and build a rare earth separation facility in Louisiana, US, while jointly constructing a downstream alloy facility with CAP.

[SMM Rare Earth Flash News] Australian mineral sands producer Iluka Resources recently announced that it has secured a A$1.65 billion (about $1.15 billion) non-recourse loan confirmed by Export Finance Australia (EFA) for the construction of a rare earth refinery in Eneabba, Western Australia. The refinery will be Australia's first fully integrated rare earth refinery. Iluka stated that the first drawdown of A$1.25 billion is expected to be fully utilized by the end of 2026, at which point construction of the refinery will be 75% complete. The project is currently over 50% complete, with commissioning anticipated to begin in mid-2027. Meanwhile, Iluka has signed a binding multi-year offtake agreement with a globally renowned automaker. The four-year agreement, effective from 2028, covers the supply of magnetic rare earth oxides including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, accounting for approximately 10% (about 1,200 mt) of Iluka's planned production.