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Ionic Rare Earths (ASX: IXR) has achieved a significant milestone in the production of rare earth oxides (REOs) from Europe, reporting continuous production from its demonstration plant in Northern Ireland, run by subsidiary Ionic Technologies International.
Ionic has reported that 11.5 kilograms of 99.8 grade didymium (neodymium-praseodymium) oxide were taken from the Belfast facility, making it the first in the United Kingdom to produce such a suite of high quality REOs.
The company is ultimately anticipating a ramp up to name plate capacity of around 10 tonnes REO per year from Belfast: a project which has been undertaken with funding support from the UK government and in collaboration with Ford Motor Company and Less Common Metals (LCM), using technology patented by Queens University.
The results also contribute positively to the feasibility study being undertaken for
a commercial plant to be developed at the site.
IonicRE managing director, Mr Tim Harrison said the production milestone was another step towards developing a Western supply chain for clean energy.
“Our Belfast facility is key to us harnessing our technology to accelerate our mining, refining and recycling of magnets and heavy rare earths which are critical for the energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and defence,” he said.
“The commercialisation of our recycling technology is moving rapidly, and the Board of IonicRE is pleased to announce that Demonstration scale production of NdPr oxides have commenced. It is an important milestone, which exhibits our readiness to supply recycled magnet REOs into the market.
“Our supply chain partners have expressed significant interest in procuring REOs from secondary sources, and with this milestone, we are confident in delivering a full schedule of magnet recycling campaigns through to mid-2025.”
IonicRE is trading at 2c.
