(Initially published on July 18, 2023)
Any relationship works better when both parties bring something to the table. For Rare Element Resources (RER) and General Atomics, it has been a productive blend of skills and assets that has not only advanced our proprietary extraction and separation technology but has heightened national awareness of the sector, the company, and the Bear Lodge Project.

When General Atomics’ affiliate Synchron took an equity position in Rare Element Resources (RER) in 2017, it was a difficult time for the rare earth (RE) sector.  In 2015, China had flooded the market, dramatically driving down prices at a critical time when new RE projects like ours were trying to get financed. Despite a great project in an exceptional location and an innovative recovery process, RER found all the progress we had made stall and the Bear Lodge Project was put on care and maintenance.

At the same time, General Atomics, a defense and diversified technology leader, was acutely aware of the importance of REs in existing and emerging technology. They understood the inherent risk in having one country control 95% of the supply of refined products and the necessity of developing a domestic rare earth supply chain in the interest of national security. After looking at the geological, environmental, and economic work RER had completed on the Bear Lodge Project, they invested in RER and positioned the Bear Lodge project to be a cornerstone for that effort.

The first thing General Atomics did was put some of their best and brightest minds on advancing our proprietary extraction and separation technology. A consortium of companies, including RER, General Atomics’ affiliate, UIT, and General Atomics' Electromagnetic Systems Group, enhanced RER’s initial design, completed extensive pilot plant testing, and developed a first-of-its-kind, real-time control software that monitors the processing throughout the system to allow for maximum efficiency. The successful completion of this work led the team to move to the next phase – demonstration plant testing – to scale-up the technology while generating the operational and economic data necessary for evaluation of a commercial operation.

The team immediately began work on detailed engineering and permitting as well as procurement of long-lead time equipment for the plant. Design is now completed, and permitting is progressing on schedule. This should allow us to begin construction later this year. Operations, which will process materials from the Bear Lodge Project, are expected to start in the second half of 2024.

I continue to be impressed by the magnitude of resources and the amazing group of professionals General Atomics has assembled to work on the demonstration plant project. Members of their team have given congressional testimony on the importance of developing a domestic source of REs and were instrumental in securing the Department of Energy’s financial participation in the demonstrated plant. Their understanding of the industry and commitment to advancing our proprietary technology and the Project means the company has accomplished more and come farther than it could have on its own. Together, we have a powerful team of scientists, mining professionals and businesspeople who can get the job done. This partnership is a rare find indeed.