Canadian-based Aclara Resources has begun working with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, through its SelectUSA program, for a study to identify a U.S. site for its planned separation facility.
The company said it will be focusing on maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing both costs and the project’s execution timeline. The key criteria will include (i) financial and investment incentives; (ii) permitting and regulatory environment; (iii) commercial and fiscal landscape; (iv) industrial site readiness; (v) infrastructure and services; (vi) supply of key materials required for the process; (vii) climate suitability; (viii) qualified workforce; among others.
“We are very pleased to receive the support from the U.S. government to find the location of our rare earth separation facility in the United States. Aclara believes that it can contribute towards securing a resilient and independent supply chain for rare earths, which are critical materials for electromobility and other key high-tech sectors of the U.S. economy,” said Aclara Chief Financial Officer François Motte.
The SelectUSA program fosters business investment that supports economic development and job creation in the United States. To date, SelectUSA has facilitated over $250 billion in investments.
Aclara’s rare earth mineral resource development projects include the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile and the Carina Module in the state of Goiás, Brazil. The company has decided to vertically integrate its rare earths concentrate production towards the manufacturing of rare earths alloys. Its U.S.-based subsidiary, Aclara Technologies, will focus on developing technologies for rare earth separation, metals and alloys.
Source: Aclara Resources