Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), a strategic metals supply chain-focused enterprise, is celebrating its advancing rare earth element (“REE”) project in Louisiana with the recent announcement that the company has received approvals from the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (“ITEP”) that will result in significant cost savings to Ucore.
Ucore has entered a multi-decade lease agreement with the administrators of the England Airpark in Alexandria, La., that will allow Ucore to build and operate a Strategic Metals Complex (“SMC”) where it will separate and produce REEs and oxides that are deemed critical to computer technology-based industries.
Currently, REE mining and refining are controlled by The People’s Republic of China to a degree that approaches a virtual monopoly. The European Union imports 98 percent of its REE supply from China and the United States gets 78 percent of its REE supply from China.
The industrial espionage and trade limit tensions of recent years between the United States and China have given rise to renewed efforts to maintain a Western hemisphere center to the supply chain for REE elements used in products ranging from cell phones to electric vehicles to F-35 fighter jets.
Ucore’s advancing SMC complex in Louisiana is central to the company’s plan to build that Western supply chain, starting with the refining of mined product.
“The overall State and local support we are receiving for the establishment of one of the first modern rare earth element processing facilities in North America has been an amazing experience, and we are diligently working to execute a Louisiana project that has the potential to significantly enhance the manufacturing landscape across North America as the world shifts to electrification,” Ucore Vice President and COO Mike Schrider stated in the company’s announcement about the tax exemption progress (https://ibn.fm/IzvFB).
According to the news release, the ITEP program offers up to a 10-year exemption to the company of 80 percent of the standard tax amount on a renewable five-year term, which may result in $8.2 million in projected tax savings for the company if the governor gives his final signature to the agreement.
Louisiana and the local parish have awarded the exemption based on Ucore’s commitment to create 100 family-wage paying jobs, its plans to make a capital investment of $75 million in the economy, and expectations that further statewide benefits for workers will be realized.
The company has been simultaneously engaged in establishing agreements for raw material supplies and supply off-take, as well as other financial arrangements.
The SMC complex will use Ucore’s proprietary RapidSX(TM) REE separation technology platform in a commercialization venture. RapidSX(TM) promises to improve on the industry standard for REE refining in terms of speed, environmental impact, and eventual cost factors. The company plans to produce 2,000 metric tons per year of total rare earth oxides (“TREOs”) by the beginning of 2025, growing to 5,000 tons by 2026 and 7,500 tons in 2027.
The company also owns an Alaskan rare earth mine prospect that it may eventually bring online to add to the limited American-based REE feedstock that currently exists.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Ucore.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF
About MiningNewsWire
MiningNewsWire (“MNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on developments and opportunities in the Global Mining and Resources sectors. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, MNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, MNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness.
MNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
To receive SMS alerts from MiningNewsWire, text “BigHole” to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.MiningNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the MiningNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by MNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.MiningNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
MiningNewsWire
Los Angeles, CA
www.MiningNewsWire.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@MiningNewsWire.com
MiningNewsWire is powered by IBN
Copper demand may remain under pressure as trade tensions between America and China persist, dampening…
Martone will assist with evaluating and sourcing U.S. and Canadian sites, focusing on power availability,…
ESGold has completed data acquisition for a deep subsurface imaging survey at its Montauban Project…
The price of gold flew past the $3200-mark last week as the trade war between…
Torr Metals operates in well-endowed mining regions, surrounded by major players like Teck’s Highland Valley…
A couple of weeks ago, the price of copper was soaring as America stockpiled ahead…