Pensana Advances $250M Angola Rare Earth Mine, Targets 2027 Production and Major Heavy Rare Earth Output

[SMM Rare Earths Briefing] Aldoro Resources announced that the hydrometallurgical tests on its Kameelburg rare earth–strontium–niobium deposit in Namibia have yielded positive results. Using a direct acid leaching process at ambient temperature and pressure, the strontium extraction rate exceeded 99%, and the rare earth recovery rate reached 72%, without requiring crushing, roasting, or solvent extraction, significantly reducing development costs. Meanwhile, drilling has discovered high-grade niobium mineralization at the margin of the carbonatite, with an intersection of 170 meters showing total rare earth oxide grade of 0.81%, strontium at 3.21%, and niobium at 0.43%. The company stated that this process substantially lowers project risk and confirms Kameelburg as one of the most important undeveloped rare earth–strontium deposits globally.

U.S. rare earth developer U.S. Rare Earths (USAR) plans to invest more than $203 million in France by 2030 to expand capacity for rare earth element separation, metals, alloys and magnet manufacturing. USAR said on Monday this expansion builds on French initiatives, including the LCM rare earth metal and alloy production facility in Lacq, an investment in Carester SAS, and investment from European private investment platform InfraVia Capital Partners.

[SMM Rare Earth Newsflash] US rare earth developer Rare Element Resources (RER) announced that its rare earth separation demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming, is progressing and plans to begin full operations by late summer 2026. The plant will utilize proprietary technology to produce high-purity neodymium-praseodymium oxide, plans to operate for up to 12 months, providing critical data for future commercial separation facilities. RER wholly owns the Bear Lodge rare earth project, which was designated as a federal FAST-41 covered project in March 2026. The company raised $30.5 million through an oversubscribed rights issue in March to fund plant operations and project licensing, and is expected to complete all licensing requirements by early 2028.