Ionic Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:IXR, OTC:IXRRF)CEO Tim Harrison joined Proactive earlier this week after the company announced the first shipment of recycled rare earth oxides to Brazil, as part of its strategy to build an integrated and sustainable rare earth supply chain through the Viridion joint venture.
Highlights
- Ionic Rare Earths has delivered its first shipment of recycled rare earth oxides to Brazil via its Viridion JV.
- The oxides were recovered from end-of-life magnets (wind turbines, MRI machines) processed in Belfast.
- The materials will support magnet manufacturing in Brazil as part of local value-add efforts.
- The recycling process significantly reduces carbon footprint and avoids radioactive waste.
- A $100 million Brazilian government initiative is supporting domestic rare earth capacity.
- Ionic signed an MoU with UK-based EMR to secure supply and feedstock for its Belfast facility.
- The company aims to support the UK’s energy security and net-zero targets.
- Ongoing grant application and commercialization efforts are underway in the UK.
Significant milestone
The company said the shipment originated from end-of-life magnets sourced from wind turbines and MRI machines, which were processed at its demonstration facility in Belfast, UK. The high-purity oxides are now being delivered to Brazilian magnet manufacturing partners.
The company highlighted that this marks a significant milestone in developing refining and recycling capacity in Brazil. It added that the work aligns with the Brazilian government’s initiative to support domestic value addition in rare earths, backed by a BRL 100 million (approx. US$19.4 million) commitment.
Harrison said the recycling process involves crushing, grinding, and digesting magnets to extract rare earths, followed by solvent extraction to isolate individual oxides. He noted the process generates fewer emissions and avoids environmental issues such as radionuclide contamination. Harrison said, “There’s a fundamental step change on the environmental aspects of recycling.”
UK MoU
The company also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with UK-based sustainable materials leader EMR. It said EMR’s extensive presence across the UK, Europe, and the US would support feedstock supply for the Belfast facility. The company described this as a key part of UK ambitions for energy security and net-zero emissions.
Ionic Rare Earths told investors it is progressing a grant application in the UK to support commercialization of its technology. The company said this is part of a broader effort to build multiple elements of the rare earth supply chain within the UK.
The company said it now has visibility over several milestones passed in the UK and expects to finalize the grant in the near future.