Caremag SAS to Launch Europe’s First Large-Scale Rare-Earth Recycling and Refining Plant in 2026

Published: Apr 7, 2026 18:31

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Caremag SAS, a French Carester subsidiary, has obtained €216 million in funding to establish a large rare-earth recycling and refining plant in Lacq, southern France, slated to begin operations by late 2026. The facility will process 2,000 t of magnets and 5,000 t of mining concentrates each year, making it Europe’s first major rare-earth recycler and a key Western producer of purified heavy rare earths. The project is supported by €110 million from Japanese investors and €106 million from the French government and will provide essential materials for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and electronics.

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